ST. LOUIS, MO – The St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) is joining workforce organizations across the country in recognizing September as National Workforce Development Month. A strong workforce development system supports the economic health of the region and helps communities grow and thrive. At its core, workforce development connects people with skills and opportunities while helping businesses build a qualified workforce. For job seekers, that may mean training, credentials or employment; for businesses, it can mean recruiting talent, training employees or developing long-term talent pipelines.  During Program Year 2024-2025, SLATE served 10,411 St. Louis residents and delivered 48,588 services. The agency also held 20 hiring fairs, partnered with 120 employers through those events, and served 574 veterans. “Workforce development is ultimately about connecting people with opportunity and helping businesses find the talent they need to grow,” said Connie L. Johnson, Executive Director of SLATE. “National Workforce Development Month allows us to highlight the many ways those connections happen every day in St. Louis and make sure residents and businesses know that SLATE is here to help. “Workforce Development in Action This SeptemberThroughout September, SLATE will connect residents with workforce resources and raise awareness of career pathways, reentry programs, emerging skills, and apprenticeships.On September 3, SLATE will launch a new podcast highlighting workforce programs, career opportunities, and community partnerships. That same day, SLATE and the City’s Division of Corrections will welcome the next cohort of Prison to Prosperity, a 10-week program that helps St. Louis City Justice Center residents build job-readiness and life skills in preparation for reentry.Throughout September, SLATE will also continue offering Learn2Tech, which builds digital literacy and introduces participants to emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. Apprenticeship education will be another focus throughout the month. SLATE’s Workforce Strategic Planning & Innovation (WSPI) Committee will receive a special apprenticeship presentation, and the full St. Louis Workforce Development Board will receive training from the Missouri Office of Workforce Development on September 22. Beginning in September, SLATE’s Adult/Dislocated Worker team will also incorporate apprenticeship training into its Friday WIOA Orientations at 2 p.m.  Expanding Apprenticeship Pathways in St. LouisThe September focus comes as SLATE expands its role in the apprenticeship system. Last month, SLATE was approved as an Apprenticeship Intermediary, allowing the agency to work directly with employers and community partners to help develop Registered Apprenticeship programs.SLATE’s first initiative as an intermediary is the Propel Kitchens Production Cook Registered Apprenticeship, approved by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprentic 

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