From EV Hype to Workforce Strategy: Designing Apprenticeship-Ready Systems

SESSION OVERVIEW

Time & Place: Monday March 23, 9am-3pm. The Cosmopolitan Hotel, Las Vegas.

Cost: None. NAWB will cover the cost of travel including per diem and up to (2) hotel nights for accepted applicants – Not to Exceed $1,500 per participant in total reimbursable travel costs.

Application Deadline: February 13th, 2026

Session Description

This pre-conference workshop is for workforce development board leaders who want to move beyond high-level conversations about electric vehicles (EV) and build practical, employer-aligned workforce strategies. As EV investments accelerate across manufacturing, energy, transportation, and battery supply chains, workforce boards are increasingly being asked to lead, convene, and coordinate solutions. This session reframes EV not as a single industry, but as a connected ecosystem that considers a variety of EVs (cars, buses, bicycles, autonomous) and subsectors (R&D, batteries, energy, charging, manufacturing, public transit etc.). The workshop will guide participants to clarify where EV workforce systems can have the greatest impact in their area using apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and work-based learning approaches.

The workshop combines labor market insights, real-world lessons from regions actively engaged in EV workforce development, and hands-on strategy design. Participants will explore how data, employer demand, education partners, and state and local coordination come together to support scalable EV talent pipelines including apprenticeship models. The session emphasizes applied learning and peer exchange, culminating in a pitch competition where winning concepts will split a $10,000 pool to further develop their proposals.

Application Notice

Participation is limited to 30 participants. Applicants will be selected based on their stated interest and commitment to apply what they learn.

NOTE: This session is not directly connected to the main NAWB Forum. Any accepted participants who wish to stay for the full conference will need to register separately and pay the registration fee. If the registration fee is a prohibitive factor, please contact us as a limited amount of financial assistance may be available.

DISCLAIMER: This workshop is funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA). The workshop and its content is created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of DOL/ETA. DOL/ETA makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to the workshop including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership.”

Apply Here

EV Pre-Conference Workshop Application: From EV Hype to Workforce Strategy: Designing Apprenticeship-Ready Systems

Name(Required)

First Last

Organization Title

Location(Required)

City State

Organizational/Regional Context: Briefly describe your organization's role and your region's current engagement or interest in Electric Vehicle (EV) workforce development.(Required)

Apprenticeship Experience: Briefly describe your organization’s current experience or capacity with apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, or other work-based learning models.(Required)

Specific EV Focus: Which specific subsector(s) of the EV ecosystem (e.g., manufacturing, batteries, charging infrastructure, R&D, public transit) are you most interested in addressing, and why?(Required)

You and the Work: What is your current role and how does it connect to the workshop topics? (Consider your engagement and experience with business services, work-based learning, and sector-strategy development)(Required)

Application Commitment: Describe one specific action or initiative you hope to implement or advance in your region based on the strategies and lessons learned from this workshop.(Required)

Pitch Competition Idea: In a few sentences, outline a preliminary concept for an EV workforce development proposal you might develop for the pitch competition.(Required)

FAQ

General Workshop Questions

What is the workshop about?

The workshop is titled “From EV Hype to Workforce Strategy: Designing Apprenticeship-Ready Systems” and focuses on moving from general interest in Electric Vehicle (EV) technology to developing a concrete workforce strategy, specifically around apprenticeship-ready systems.

When and where will the workshop take place?

It will be held on Monday, March 23, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at The Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas.

Is there a cost to attend?

No. All eligible workshop costs including participant travel, lodging for 2 night, and per diem for 3 days will be covered not to exceed $1,500 in total reimbursable travel expenses per participant

How many participants will be selected?

Participation is limited to 30 individuals.

How are applicants selected?

Applicants will be selected based on their stated interest and their commitment to apply the strategies and lessons learned once they return to their home region.

Why should I attend?

The workshop is designed for Workforce Development Boards and partners who are actively exploring or scaling EV-adjacent talent pathways, including State and local workforce leaders (board staff and operators), State apprenticeship agency representatives, Community college and CTE/high school partners , and Economic development and industry partnership leaders.

Is this workshop connected to the NAWB Forum?

NO! This workshop is not connected to the Forum. Any participants wishing to stay for the NAWB Forum will need to register for this conference separately and cover any additional costs of travel, including lodging on their own.

It costs more than $1,500 to cover the cost of airfare, lodging and per diem, What should I do?

No. All eligible workshop costs including participant travel, lodging for 2 night, and per diem for 3 days will be covered not to exceed $1,500 in total reimbursable travel expenses per participan

Can I extend or adjust my travel dates?

The reimbursement covers the cost of R/T travel for the day of the workshop. If participants wish to schedule travel for other dates, they can do so and then seek reimbursement for the amount that would encompass the day of the workshop.

Example 1: A participant books a flight from Sunday 3/22-Thursday 3/26 for $600. They seek reimbursement for $500 since this is the amount for a comparable flight Sunday 3/22-Monday 3/23.

Example 2: A participant books a flight from Saturday 2/21- Wednesday 3/25 for $800. They seek reimbursement for the full $800 because a comparable flight Sunday 3/22-Monday 3/23 would be $900.

Example 3: A participant drives 100 miles R/T to attend the workshop. Since the distance and GSA-approved mileage reimbursement rate ($0.725/mile for personal vehicles) doesn’t change irrespective of the travel days, the participant seeks reimbursement for $72.5 in transportation costs.

How do I get a hotel room?

Participants are responsible for booking their own lodging and seeking reimbursement. As this workshop is considered a conference, participants are invited to use NAWB’s negotiated rate at the Cosmopolitan Hotel which can be booked here. If participants do not use this negotiated conference rate, they are eligible to seek reimbursement at the current GSA approved hotel rate for Las Vegas in March ($159/night).

How do I get reimbursed for my travel?

A reimbursement form will be distributed electronically to participants following the workshop. All supporting documentation including travel receipts will need to be attached to the form.