VMEC and the VT Department of Labor (VT DOL) have announced their latest Apprenticeship partnership. The American Manufacturing Apprenticeship Incentive Fund is a new pay-for-performance federal incentive program administered by VMEC on behalf of the U.S. Department of Labor. It is designed to help employers create, expand, and sustain Registered Apprenticeship programs in advanced manufacturing.
Why It Matters Manufacturers who hire apprentices through Registered Apprenticeship programs can receive $3,500 per apprentice after they complete a 90-day probationary period. (Note: This funding is only available for new apprentices who are registered and begin the program on or after January 28, 2026.) This supports workforce development, reduces recruitment and training cost burdens, and aligns employers with a scalable talent pipeline across advanced manufacturing occupations.
Who Can Participate Employer sponsors of Registered Apprenticeship programs in advanced manufacturing sectors (e.g., aerospace, automotive, biotechnology, semiconductors, shipbuilding, etc.). (Note: A Registered Apprenticeship is a formal training program approved by the Vermont Department of Labor, the State Apprenticeship Agency, with structured on-the-job learning paired with related technical instruction.) The application portal opens on January 28, 2026, with rolling intake until funds are fully obligated.
Key Takeaway for Employers This program offers a practical way to offset upfront training costs and accelerate growth of your skilled labor force, but you need strong preparation, a compliant Registered Apprenticeship program, and timely application submission after January 28, 2026.
Further information Contact Sarah Knight, VT DOL Senior Program Administrator for Apprenticeship, Workforce Development Division, at [email protected], Carla Wuthrich, VMEC Director of Field Operations, Business Advisor, at [email protected] or Lisa Henderson, VMEC Director of Client Services, at [email protected].
Regulatory Compliance webinar recording
In case you missed it, along with our partners the VT Law & Graduate School, we held our "Regulatory Compliance Deep Dive" webinar on January 22. Please tune into the recorded link at your leisure and connect with Brett Ference, VMEC Director of Business Development, should you seek further information on this topic.
Learning Opportunities - Join Us This Winter!
As part of our commitment and mission to serve VT Manufacturers, we are pleased to continue from last year into 2026, our 70% off public training discount! Check out below how we can assist you and your team with your company’s learning opportunities!
Lean 101 - Lean Transformation
Wednesday, January 28
8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Hampton Inn, White River Junction
$98 pp (a $325 pp value) / Register!
Lean 101 workshops have created and reignited the spark for improvement in countless organizations in Vermont and across the globe. Participants will walk away recognizing the 8 wastes and with an introduction to mindsets and methods that they can use to eliminate these wastes in their own companies. New to Lean or need a refresher? THIS is for YOU!
Training Within Industry – Job Methods (TWI-JM)
Monday, February 16
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
American Meadows, Fairfax
$195 pp (a $650 pp value) / Register!
TWI-JM is designed to build a team culture focused on daily incremental improvements by more effectively utilizing the people, machinery and materials already in place. The training provides a structured approach for workers to bring their improvement ideas forward and to validate that improvement through a four-step process. Be more effective with people, equipment and materials you already have on hand! A bonus to this one day training - an additional and future half day session will be scheduled for you and your team at your facility, so you may work on your own company process.
How A3 Thinking Can Transform Your QMS
Friday, February 20
12 Noon - 1:00 pm
Virtual/ Free/ Register!
A3 thinking at multiple levels in the organization connects your strategy with the Quality Management System (QMS) and creates focus on what is driving the business and the associated risks. Join us for this hour-long webinar as you learn effective practices to get your QMS on the right track for 2026 and beyond!
Management System Certification Bill of Rights
Friday, March 20
12 Noon - 1:00 pm
Virtual/ Free/ Register!
No matter what standard your QMS is predicated on (ISO 9001, AS 9100, ISO 13485), there is a prescribed set of rules the Certification Body (CB) must follow when auditing your organization. If you have experienced inconsistent audit findings, a nonconformance not well supported by a system requirement or other scenarios that have caught your attention when your organization has undergone its audit, then this session may be of value to you.
Part of the nationwide MEP National Network and hosted by Vermont State University since 1995, VMEC operates as a not-for-profit with a primary mission, “to strengthen and empower Vermont manufacturers.”
A local resource and trusted adviser to manufacturing enterprises of all sizes, the VMEC team brings expertise in consulting, coaching, hands-on implementation support, training and education for leaders and workers. VMEC is the official representative of the MEP National Network in Vermont.
Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center