Governor Hobbs announces AWC as BuildItAZ grant recipient
January 8, 2026Funding to expand Arizona’s construction workforce in support of state’s economic growth
Phoenix, Ariz. (January 8, 2026) – This week, Governor Katie Hobbs and the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) announced that Arizona Western College has been selected as one of ten Arizona-registered construction apprenticeship programs to share in a $3 million grant through the BuildItAZ Apprenticeship Initiative.
“Creating opportunity for working-class Arizonans is critical to realizing the Arizona Promise,” Governor Hobbs said. “Arizona has established itself as a national and international economic giant, with businesses of all shapes and sizes growing and moving to our state. This influx means more jobs, more opportunity for Arizonans to access family-sustaining, stable careers, and more demand for skilled construction workers. Increasing construction apprentices is core to building Arizona’s future, whether it’s new manufacturing facilities, new roads, or new housing, and I am proud of the progress we have made to ensure Arizonans are at the center of it all.”
The BuildItAZ initiative has now invested approximately $5 million to expand and promote high paying, fulfilling construction career pathways since its launch in 2023. Out of the three rounds of BuildItAZ grant awards, AWC was the only community college to be selected as a grantee for the initiative.
“This BuildItAZ award opens doors to opportunity, mobility, and high-skill careers that once felt out of reach for our students,” shared Dr. Reetika Dhawan¸ AWC’s Chief Executive Officer of Entrepreneurial College & Vice President of Workforce & Healthcare. “Arizona Western College is committed to breaking barriers, expanding access, and building innovative training models that meet students where they are. This grant energizes our mission and fuels the future of our region.”
As a registered apprenticeship sponsor with the state of Arizona, AWC currently partners with Yuma County employers to offer apprenticeship pathways in Broadband Fiber Optics and Electrical Technology. Through these programs, students earn paid on-the-job training with a local employer while completing accredited courses at AWC.
“I chose the apprenticeship program because it helps transition the knowledge you learn in the classroom over to the field,” reflected Andrew Lay, a graduate of the Electrical Technology Apprenticeship. “It has changed my career path in helping me get a good career with a company that really looks at me as an individual and I have learned so much from them and building a future for myself.”
To learn more about AWC’s apprenticeship programs or apply to partner with AWC as an employer, click here. Further questions can be directed to apprentice@azwestern.edu.
For more information about the BuildItAZ Apprenticeship Initiative or to apply for the fourth round of grants visit OEO’s website at oeo.az.gov. To learn more about BuildItAZ, visit builditarizona.com.
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Contact:
Miguel Rios
Director of Apprenticeship Programs & Contractual Prison Programs
Arizona Western College
miguel.rios@azwestern.edu
(928) 314-9435