Insights
Workforce Pell is a Win — But Rural States Risk Losing Out
Published August 20, 2025
Workforce Pell opens the door to federal aid for short-term training—but rural students are at risk of being sidelined.
The new program could expand opportunity in fields like health care, manufacturing, and clean energy. But in rural areas, strict ROI rules—intended to protect students and taxpayers—could actually sever the very training pipelines they’re meant to strengthen, writes Katherine Ash in an opinion piece for Work Shift.
Skilled trade jobs are in high demand. Vermont can seize the moment.
Published November 21, 2022
Vermont stands at a unique inflection point: with a nationwide shortage of skilled tradespeople and billions flowing in from federal infrastructure initiatives, the state has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to align workforce development with capital investment.
In this piece for VTDigger, Katherine proposes strategic steps — like building industry coalitions, strengthening data systems, expanding apprenticeship models, and reshaping public perceptions of trade careers — to ensure Vermont not only riders this wave but grows a resilient, equitable trades workforce.
