Well, $100 million of apprenticeship grants isn't gonna cut it. The money would be better spent in developing the needed infrastructure to adopt the system. Skip state wide systems and adopt a nation wide system.
As for the "cost factor" for the companies...even if still at apprenticeship level, the people are working, even if it's just minor tasks in the first few months, so give them a damn salary. Here in Germany the average is about 700$/month on average, with salary increasing by about 50$ each year. Plus a decent chance to get a full time job at the same company after your apprenticeship is done.
The firms won't need to establish programs. The states will have to establish schools for that, not the firms.
As for the "cost factor" for the companies...even if still at apprenticeship level, the people are working, even if it's just minor tasks in the first few months, so give them a damn salary. Here in Germany the average is about 700$/month on average, with salary increasing by about 50$ each year. Plus a decent chance to get a full time job at the same company after your apprenticeship is done.
The firms won't need to establish programs. The states will have to establish schools for that, not the firms.