SALT LAKE CITY — In a significant step toward expanding access to high-paying, stable careers in the trades, Rasa Legal, Utah Women in Trades (UWIT), and the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation have joined forces to launch a groundbreaking workforce development initiative. Supported by a $20,000 grant from the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation, this collaboration will provide pre-apprenticeship training, employment pathways, and critical legal support to justice-impacted individuals who face barriers to entering the workforce.

Through this initiative, UWIT will form a dedicated cohort of justice-impacted people to participate in its Apprenticeship Readiness Program (ARP). This 12 to 15-week pre-apprenticeship course equips participants with hands-on training, industry certifications, and connections to local labor unions and employers. Rasa Legal will provide access to record clearance services, allowing participants to navigate legal barriers that often prevent them from securing career-line work.

For the nearly one in four Utahns with a criminal record, finding stable, well-paying jobs remains challenging, even when they possess the skills and desire to succeed. Many employers conduct background checks, and individuals with records—no matter how old or minor—are often disqualified from career opportunities.

“With this partnership, we are removing unnecessary roadblocks that keep talented individuals from getting access to skills, training, and solid careers in the trades,” said Noella Sudbury, CEO and Founder of Rasa Legal. “By combining pre-apprenticeship training with legal support, we’re ensuring that justice-impacted individuals can pursue high-paying careers without their past mistakes defining their future.”

UWIT’s Apprenticeship Readiness Program prepares participants for careers in skilled trades such as plumbing, HVAC, electrical work, and ironworking. Thanks to funding from the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation, individuals in this cohort will receive:

● Pre-apprenticeship training with hands-on experience and industry certifications designed to help individuals secure trade jobs.

● Stipends to help address financial barriers

● Record clearance services from Rasa Legal to ensure background checks are not a barrier to employment

“This partnership embodies our mission at UWIT—to open doors for individuals who may have been overlooked by traditional workforce pathways,” said Concetta Defa, President at UWIT. “By providing both training and legal support, we are not only empowering individuals but also strengthening Utah’s workforce.”

The skilled trades industry is facing a labor shortage, with thousands of open positions in Utah alone. At the same time, justice-impacted individuals represent a highly motivated, untapped workforce. By investing in second chances, this initiative benefits not only individuals but also employers and the broader economy.

“The Rocky Mountain Power Foundation is excited to support this program that will help prepare students for careers in the trades.” said Dick Garlish, director of the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation and President of Rocky Mountain Power.

“Local industry is in need of skilled workers and this partnership is a fantastic way to bring these opportunities to the communities.”

This initiative is just the beginning. Rasa Legal and UWIT aims to expand this model, ensuring that more justice-impacted individuals have access to training, record clearance, and high-paying career opportunities in the trades.

Individuals with criminal records who are interested in applying for the Apprenticeship Readiness Program can visit rasa-legal.com/uwit.

About Rasa Legal

Rasa Legal is a mission-driven legal tech company dedicated to making criminal record clearance simple and affordable. Through innovative technology, Rasa provides record expungement, sealing, and rights restoration services, helping individuals move forward with better access to jobs, housing, and economic opportunity. Learn more at www.rasa-legal.com.

About Utah Women in Trades (UWIT)

Founded in 2010, Utah Women in Trades (UWIT) is committed to increasing the number of women and allies in non-traditional building and construction trades. Through apprenticeship programs, mentorship, and advocacy, UWIT helps individuals build sustainable careers while fostering diversity and equity in the skilled trades.

About the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation

The PacifiCorp Foundation, doing business as the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho, is one of the largest utility-endowed foundations in the United States. The foundation was created by PacifiCorp, an energy company that serves over 2 million customers across a diverse six-state region as Rocky Mountain Power (Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho) and as Pacific Power (Oregon, Washington and California). The foundation’s mission, through charitable investments, is to support the growth and vitality of the communities served by Rocky Mountain Power and Pacific Power. Since it started in 1988, the PacifiCorp Foundation has awarded more than $77 million to nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit RockyMountainPower.net/Foundation.

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