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IWSI America Partners with the USDA Forest Service to Develop Nationwide Apprenticeship Program

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1 year ago

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New Forestry Technician Apprenticeship Initiative to Address Workforce Gaps and Provide Career Pathways for Diverse Communities

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Workforce development organization Institute for Workplace Skills & Innovation America (IWSI) today announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service to design and launch a national apprenticeship program.

“We seek to recruit new talent and develop a skilled, dedicated workforce ready to meet the distinct challenges of forest management,” said Dr. Amy Firestone, National Workforce Development and Apprenticeship Leader at the Forest Service.

The collaborative initiative, which will focus on forestry technician roles, is intended to offer innovative career opportunities to underrepresented and marginalized communities, and help ensure the long-term sustainability of forest management across the United States. This apprenticeship program is a key part of the Forest Service’s strategy to meet current and future staffing needs. The partnership with IWSI, which specializes in developing and implementing apprenticeship programs for government organizations, nonprofits and corporations of all sizes, underscores the importance of apprenticeships in providing skilled talent for critical roles, particularly in forestry and conservation.

Addressing Workforce Needs Across the Nation:

The Forest Service’s forestry technician position is vital to the agency’s operations, with roughly 3,000 employees annually filling these roles across the country. However, the position has a turnover rate of approximately 10% each year, creating a consistent need for new recruits.

“Forestry technicians are in high demand, and they play a crucial role within our agency,” said Dr. Amy Firestone, National Workforce Development and Apprenticeship Leader at the Forest Service. “By collaborating with IWSI America to introduce a new apprenticeship program, we seek to recruit new talent and develop a skilled, dedicated workforce ready to meet the distinct challenges of forest management.

A Comprehensive Pathway for Career Growth:

The apprenticeship aims to prepare participants for multifaceted careers in environmental stewardship, public land management, and conservation. Apprentices will gain hands-on experience and the training needed to excel as forestry technicians, with opportunities for advancement within the Forest Service and beyond.

“This program will not only address immediate workforce needs but also create a long-term pathway for individuals interested in a career in forestry,” said Deborah Williamson, Vice President, IWSI America. “We are excited to partner with the Forest Service to design a program that opens doors to individuals from diverse backgrounds and helps them build fulfilling careers while contributing to the sustainability of our nation’s forests.”

The program will also prioritize recruiting participants from underserved communities and those with limited access to employment opportunities. The Forest Service plans to launch pilot programs in multiple states by late 2025, partnering with local organizations to ensure that the program reflects the needs of each community.

Building on a Legacy of Apprenticeship Success:

This new initiative builds on the Forest Service’s longstanding success with apprenticeships, most notably its wildland firefighter apprenticeship program, which has been in operation since 1989. The wildland firefighter program, which hires approximately 300 new apprentices each year, has proven effective in reducing turnover and increasing productivity. The Forest Service believes that the same mentorship and support systems that have been successful in firefighting can be adapted to the forestry technician role, ensuring greater retention and career growth.

“We’ve seen firsthand the impact that apprenticeships can have on employee stability and job satisfaction,” Firestone explained. “By providing clear pathways for advancement and ongoing support, apprenticeships have become a cornerstone of workforce development within the Forest Service.”

A National Model for the Future:

The Forest Service and IWSI are working to have the program developed and registered with the U.S. Department of Labor by Q4 2025, with the goal of employing its first paid apprentices by 2026. By creating this program, the Forest Service and IWSI America are not only addressing critical workforce gaps but also providing new opportunities for individuals to enter careers that contribute to environmental sustainability and public service. The apprenticeship program will help build a diverse and skilled workforce that will be essential to managing and protecting the nation’s forests for generations to come.

About IWSI America:

IWSI America is a workforce development organization that collaborates with enterprising businesses, nonprofits and governments on growing pipelines of talent to meet dynamic workforce needs. Learn more at https://www.iwsiamerica.org/

About the USDA Forest Service:

The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.

Media Contact

Alex Rush, IWSI America, 1 7186643517, arush@rosengrouppr.com, https://www.iwsiamerica.org/ 

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/iwsi-america-partners-with-the-usda-forest-service-to-develop-nationwide-apprenticeship-program-302326329.html

SOURCE IWSI America

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SoftBank Corp. and TOPPAN Holdings Develop Lightweight, Durable Skin for Solar HAPS Aircraft Wings

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11 minutes ago

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April 27, 2026

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Skin’s compatibility with stratospheric conditions such as extreme UV rays and ultra-low temperatures makes longer HAPS operations possible

TOKYO, April 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SoftBank Corp. (TYO: 9434) (President & CEO: Junichi Miyakawa, “SoftBank”) and TOPPAN Holdings Inc. (TYO: 7911) (President & COO: Satoshi Oya, “TOPPAN Holdings”) jointly developed a lightweight, durable skin for use on solar High-Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) aircraft wings and devised a testing method that replicates the stratosphere’s environment. Test production will go forward, and the aircraft wing skin is planned for use with HTA-type[1] HAPS, which SoftBank plans to deploy for commercial services from 2029 onwards.     

This jointly developed HAPS aircraft wing skin and test method that reproduces stratospheric conditions were made possible by combining SoftBank’s HAPS expertise and TOPPAN Holdings’ know-how accrued over years of creating advanced multi-layered film technology designed for packaging and construction materials. TOPPAN Holdings also leveraged its proprietary technology that evaluates weather resistance. This joint development mitigates film damage (degradation) caused by strong ultraviolet (UV) rays and ultra-low temperatures of almost -100°C. As a result, the aircraft can stay in the stratosphere for longer periods. 

Development Background
HAPS, also referred to as “base stations in the sky,” provide communication services from uncrewed aircraft that remain airborne in the stratosphere. Being able to keep an aircraft with a communications payload airborne for extended periods of time would make it possible to provide an alternative means of communications in the aftermath of large-scale natural disasters, as well as provide communication services to under-connected areas, such as mountainous regions and remote islands. As these platforms operate from the stratosphere at an altitude of approximately 20 km above, they offer wider-area coverage than base stations on the ground, while also providing high-quality, high-volume, low-latency communications superior to satellite-based communications. However, at this altitude in the stratosphere, UV ray and ozone exposure is far greater than at ground level, and with exposure to extremely cold temperatures that sometimes drop to almost -100℃, impaired efficacy due to these environmental factors had been a serious issue with conventional all-purpose skins. Responding to this challenge, SoftBank and TOPPAN Holdings jointly developed a new ultra-lightweight, high-durability skin for aircraft wings capable of withstanding the harsh conditions of the stratosphere, along with a specialized methodology for its evaluation.     

Wing Skin & Evaluation Method Characteristics
1. Use of impact-resistant advanced resin and proprietary structure to achieve both lightweighting and safety
Leveraging converting technology[2] developed for packaging by TOPPAN Holdings, an optimized skin structure was achieved by precisely layering original materials and impact-resistant advanced resin suitable for use at extremely low temperature conditions. The resulting skin weighs the same as or less than average conventional all-purpose skin, and even if damage to the skin were to occur, the break-resistant design keeps damage from spreading, allowing for both a safe and lighter HAPS airframe.    

2. Advanced durability to address harsh stratospheric conditions
SoftBank has contributed real-world data from its stratospheric HAPS flights, including actual temperature measurements and deep ultraviolet (UV-C) ray exposure conditions, and has also defined requirements such as weight reduction and other performance criteria. This has enabled TOPPAN Holdings to design a skin that addresses exposure to the harsh environmental conditions of the stratosphere by applying technology developed for construction materials. These conditions particular to the stratosphere include everything from extremely low temperatures (approximately -50℃ to -95℃) to extreme heat (approximately 100℃) from direct sunlight. The skin is also resistant to short wave UV-C and high-concentration ozone (10-20 ppm, parts per million) exposure that are far stronger than at ground level. This durability will allow for extended HAPS operation periods.      

3. Establishing a testing method that simulates stratospheric conditions to ensure reliability
TOPPAN Holdings leveraged its knowledge of packaging film testing and accelerated durability testing of construction materials, to construct a new test environment that assesses the skin under a simulation of the ultralow temperatures of the stratosphere, while also facilitating the testing of simultaneous exposure from short wave UV rays and the ozone. By using this test environment, it is possible to understand the detailed mechanisms of deterioration particular to the stratosphere and to use that knowledge for improved product design. This understanding and design adjustment makes it possible to carry out a more precise and more reliable evaluation compared to former testing methods.     

Roles of Both Companies
SoftBank
Provide expertise required to evaluate the suitability of the skin as well as expertise on HAPS operations
Supervision of advancing use with HAPS aircraft and transferring advances to practical application

TOPPAN Holdings
Develop and provide skin material suitable for HAPS aircraft
Proposal for evaluation method in stratospheric environment

Future Developments
SoftBank and TOPPAN Holdings will proceed with research to make the skin material developed within the scope of this project even lighter and stronger by fiscal 2027 (the year ending March 31, 2028). Additionally, while evaluating durability in the stratosphere, both companies will also attempt to establish mass production technology capable of ensuring sufficient supply and reliable quality by fiscal 2028. Also, based on testing outcomes, additional functions will be added, and the skin is expected to be used by SoftBank on HTA-type HAPS aircraft that provide commercial services, planned for launch from 2029 onwards. Both companies also plan to apply this skin to other fields that require a high level of durability.

[1] HTA (Heavier-Than-Air) refers to HAPS that remain airborne by generating aerodynamic lift, similar to conventional aircraft.

[2] Converting technology is the process of transforming materials like film into high-function final products through specialized processing such as printing and lamination. 

For more information:
https://www.holdings.toppan.com/en/news/04/newsrelease260427_1.html 

About SoftBank Corp.
Guided by the SoftBank Group’s corporate philosophy, “Information Revolution – Happiness for everyone,” SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) operates telecommunications and IT businesses in Japan and globally. Building on its strong business foundation, SoftBank Corp. is expanding into non-telecom fields in line with its “Beyond Carrier” growth strategy while further growing its telecom business by harnessing the power of 5G/6G, IoT, Digital Twin and Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) solutions, including High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS)-based stratospheric telecommunications. While constructing AI data centers and developing homegrown LLMs specialized for the Japanese language, SoftBank is integrating AI with radio access networks (AI-RAN), with the aim of becoming a provider of next-generation social infrastructure.
https://www.softbank.jp/en/corp/

About the TOPPAN Group
Established in Tokyo in 1900, the TOPPAN Group is a leading and diversified global provider committed to delivering sustainable, integrated solutions in fields including printing, communications, security, packaging, décor materials, electronics, and digital transformation. The TOPPAN Group’s global team of more than 50,000 employees offers optimal solutions enabled by industry-leading expertise and technologies to address the diverse challenges of every business sector and society and contribute to the achievement of shared sustainability goals.
https://www.holdings.toppan.com/en/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/toppan/

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/softbank-corp-and-toppan-holdings-develop-lightweight-durable-skin-for-solar-haps-aircraft-wings-302753970.html

SOURCE TOPPAN Holdings

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TravelingWiki Foundation Launches SportsFanWiki.com, Providing Disabled Fans with Sports Venue Specific Information in Wiki Format

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11 minutes ago

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April 27, 2026

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The setup of SportsFanWiki.com mirrors the extremely successful format of TravelingWiki.com, which documents disability resources for all FAA Large Sized and FAA Medium Sized hub airports and leverages the launch of a GenAI platform to ensure access across society to expanded disability resources information.

LAS VEGAS, April 27, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — TravelingWiki Foundation announces the launch of SportsFanWiki.com, providing a comprehensive database of sports venue information for fans with Non Visible Disabilities. The setup of SportsFanWiki.com mirrors the extremely successful format of TravelingWiki.com, which documents disability resources for all FAA Large Sized and FAA Medium Sized hub airports.

Leadership of TravelingWiki Foundation is honored to expand to sports venue disability information, offered free to the public and funded via the the sale of cards from the extraordinary careers of Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Shohei Ohtani and Mickey Mantle.

The launch of SportsFanWiki occurs at the same time as the launch of ShoheiAutographs.com; MantleRookies.com; KobeRookies.com; and LebronRookies.com, offering market leading sports card inventory of Shohei Ohtani, Mickey Mantle, Kobe Bryant and Lebron James, respectively. The launch highlights TravelingWiki’s services offered including new Generative AI functionality via a GenAI platform currently in beta testing. The launch also spotlights TravelingWiki’s CardForACause.com platform for free disability resources offered to 20 million Americans for no cost as funded with sports cards sales nationwide via the most two recent White House administrations.

TravelingWiki CEO Jonathan Sutter notes, “Leadership of TravelingWiki Foundation is honored to expand to sports venue disability information, offered free to the public and funded via the the sale of cards from the extraordinary careers of Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Shohei Ohtani and Mickey Mantle, to highlight the critical resources offered via TravelingWiki for the Non Visible Disability community.”

More information about the non-profit work of TravelingWiki foundation is available via visiting http://www.Travelingwiki.com.

Media Contact

Jonathan Sutter, TravelingWiki Foundation, 1 4044033333, jonathan.sutter@travelingwiki.com, http://www.TravelingWiki.com

Jonathan Sutter, TravelingWiki Foundation, 1 4044033333, jonathan.sutter@travelingwiki.com, http://www.TravelingWiki.com

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View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/travelingwiki-foundation-launches-sportsfanwikicom-providing-disabled-fans-with-sports-venue-specific-information-in-wiki-format-302753876.html

SOURCE TravelingWiki Foundation

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AiPPT.com Expands Its Approach to Turning Information into Ready-to-Use Presentations in India

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11 minutes ago

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April 27, 2026

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NEW DELHI, April 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AiPPT.com has refined its platform as demand continues to grow in India for faster ways to turn everyday information into structured presentations.

Across universities, coaching centers, startups, and corporate teams, presentation work often begins with scattered material from notes, documents, and online sources. The platform focuses on converting this workflow into a single process that produces usable slides from raw input. The aim is to reduce preparation time while keeping presentations clear and ready for use.

A Workflow Built Around Content

AiPPT.com allows users to start in familiar ways. A topic can be entered directly, or files such as Word and PDF documents can be uploaded. Web content can also be converted into slides via the URL-to-PPT feature, which turns online information into structured presentations.

The system analyzes the input and builds a presentation with clear sections and logical flow. Slides are generated with formatting applied automatically, reducing manual effort.

For users looking for inspiration, AiPPT.com also provides resources such as easy presentation topics to help them get started more quickly.

From Scattered Information to Clear Communication

In academic and workplace settings, information is often spread across multiple formats. Turning this into a structured presentation can take time.

AiPPT.com simplifies this process. A report can become a meeting deck. A research paper can be turned into a seminar presentation. Startups can quickly build investor materials using the AI pitch deck generator. Educators can create structured lessons with support from tools designed for teaching, such as AI for teachers.

A Flexible System for Editing and Conversion

AiPPT.com supports full editing after generation. Users can adjust text, change slide order, or refine structure. Presentations can also be edited directly through its online PPT editor.

Users can also choose from a range of presentation templates to match different use cases. This flexibility helps users adapt presentations for classrooms, meetings, and digital sharing without rebuilding them.

About AiPPT.com

AiPPT.com is an AI-powered PPT generator focused on turning information into structured presentations. The company builds tools that connect content creation, organization, and presentation in one workflow. Its goal is to support clearer communication by helping users transform ideas and materials into ready to use slides efficiently.

Contact Information
Company Name: PIXELBLOOM PTE. LTD.
Email: support@aippt.com

Website: https://www.aippt.com/

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/aipptcom-expands-its-approach-to-turning-information-into-ready-to-use-presentations-in-india-302753879.html

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