Technology

JFF Awarded $40 Million by U.S. Department of Labor Program to Expand Registered Apprenticeship Nationwide

Published

2 months ago

July 10, 2026

The Pay-for-Performance award will grow Registered Apprenticeship in the high-demand roles that build and sustain artificial intelligence, semiconductor, and nuclear energy infrastructure

BOSTON, July 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Jobs for the Future (JFF), a national nonprofit that drives transformation in the U.S. education and workforce systems, today announced that it has been selected as one of five recipients for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Pay-for-Performance (PfP) Incentive Payments Program, a $40 million award that will help expand Registered Apprenticeship nationally in high-demand sectors. Through a four-year effort, JFF and its partners will expand apprenticeship programs in the roles that build and maintain the critical infrastructure sustaining the artificial intelligence, semiconductor and nuclear energy industries.

“Building the infrastructure behind AI, semiconductors, and nuclear energy will require a skilled workforce that can grow just as quickly, and Registered Apprenticeship is one of the most effective ways to make that happen,” said Maria Flynn, president and CEO of JFF. “Performance-based incentives can help employers move from interest to implementation at scale, creating more opportunities for workers to earn while they learn and access quality jobs, while giving employers the talent pipeline they need.”

These occupations sit at the intersection of strong employer demand, high wages, and clear opportunity for growth in Registered Apprenticeship. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the annual shortage of skilled tradespeople will approach half a million over the next decade, even as critical roles in semiconductor, nuclear, and energy infrastructure show few or no registered apprentices today. Apprenticeships offer a tested solution, providing workers with paid, hands-on training and a pathway to quality jobs, while giving employers the talent pipelines they need to innovate and compete on a global scale.

The Pay-for-Performance model is built to move the industry from interest to implementation. Performance-based incentives help employers and sponsors to launch and scale high-quality Registered Apprenticeship programs, rewarding real outcomes as new apprentices are hired, retained, and progress in their programs. The approach is designed to expand apprenticeships more quickly and in sectors where employer demand is highest.

JFF will lead the national effort with a consortium of eight industry and apprenticeship partners, giving the program direct reach into the employers and sectors it is designed to serve: Apprenticeship Alliance, Inc., Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD), Global Electronics Association, Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), JobForward, National Institute for Industry and Career Advancement (NIICA), NextFlex, and the University of Cincinnati.

As we move forward with implementation, JFF and its partners will open the program to Registered Apprenticeship sponsors nationwide, provide hands-on support to employers launching or expanding programs, and share what works with the broader field.

About Jobs for the Future:
Jobs for the Future (JFF) drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. www.jff.org

Media Contact:
Yveneka Lestin
ylestin@jff.org

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SOURCE JOBS FOR THE FUTURE INC

Technology

LeanDNA Launches Demand Scenario Modeling in APEX, Replacing Spreadsheet Guesswork With Real-Time Production Feasibility

Published

53 minutes ago

August 25, 2026

New capability lets production planners test demand changes against live supply and BOM data in minutes, without exporting ERP data or risking live system records.

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LeanDNA, a leading intelligent supply chain execution platform, today announced the general availability of Demand Scenario Modeling (DSM), a new capability within its APEX platform that lets production planners, buyers, and supply chain managers instantly test demand changes against real supply and Bill of Materials (BOM) data, without spreadsheets or system risk.

When forecasts shift, most production planners still turn to spreadsheets to find out whether production can support it: exporting ERP data, flattening multi-level BOMs, and reconciling supply just to answer one question — can we build this? The process is slow, error-prone, and disconnected from real-time system data, and it often produces false shortages that obscure the actual constraints.

Demand Scenario Modeling replaces that manual exercise with what-if analysis built directly into APEX. Production planners can model a demand change and immediately see which components truly constrain production, how many units can realistically be built, and where shortage risk increases, turning a process that has historically taken hours into a workflow measured in minutes.

Because DSM runs in a sandbox environment connected to live ERP and BOM data, planners can test and compare multiple scenarios, adjust quantities and dates, and recalculate instantly, without posting temporary plans or manipulating live records to get an answer. That combination of speed and system safety is central to how LeanDNA has built the capability.

“Production planners shouldn’t have to choose between speed and safety when they’re testing a demand change,” said Andy Ellenthal, CEO of LeanDNA. “Demand Scenario Modeling gives them both: an answer in minutes, grounded in the same supply and BOM data running their factory, without ever touching a live ERP record. It replaces guesswork with a repeatable way to say yes, no, or not yet with confidence.”

Demand Scenario Modeling is available now to APEX customers and is purpose-built for the tactical-to-mid-horizon planning window — roughly one to twelve months out — where production teams most often need to turn a demand question into a production commitment.

About LeanDNA

LeanDNA powers the world’s discrete manufacturing with a single source of truth for factory-first supply planning, materials management, and inventory optimization. APEX, the AI-powered expert execution platform from LeanDNA, transforms data into optimized decisions and action. LeanDNA empowers manufacturers in aerospace, HVAC,industrials, automotive, and medical to improve on-time delivery and working capital levels. Leading manufacturers including Caterpillar, Daikin Applied, Safran, and Siemens use APEX for supply chain orchestration to gain visibility into current and incoming materials, take action based on inventory criticality, collaborate in real time with suppliers, and track progress toward inventory optimization goals. Learn more at LeanDNA.com.

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SOURCE LeanDNA Inc

Technology

OppFi to Participate in September 2026 Conferences

Published

53 minutes ago

August 25, 2026

CHICAGO, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — OppFi Inc. (NYSE: OPFI) (“OppFi” or the “Company”), a leading tech-enabled digital finance platform that works with banks to provide financial products and services for everyday Americans, today announced that management will participate in the following conferences in September 2026:

Oppenheimer Fintech Leaders Conference
Location: New York
Date: September 15, 2026

U.S. Bancorp | BTIG Consumer Finance Conference 2026
Location: Boston
Date: September 17, 2026

To schedule a meeting with OppFi, please reach out to your Oppenheimer or BTIG representatives.

About OppFi
OppFi (NYSE: OPFI) is a leading tech-enabled digital finance platform that works with banks to provide financial products and services for everyday Americans. Through a transparent and responsible platform, which includes financial inclusion and excellent customer experience, the Company supports consumers who are turned away by mainstream options to build better financial health. OppLoans by OppFi maintains a 4.4/5.0 star rating on Trustpilot with more than 5,400 reviews, making the Company one of the top consumer-rated financial platforms online. OppFi also holds a 35% equity interest in Bitty Holdings, LLC (“Bitty”), a credit access company that offers revenue-based financing and other working capital solutions to small businesses. For more information, please visit oppfi.com.

Investors:

investors@oppfi.com

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SOURCE OppFi

Technology

Zillow Group to present at Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference

Published

53 minutes ago

August 25, 2026

SEATTLE, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Zillow Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: Z and ZG), which is transforming the way people buy, sell, rent and finance homes, today announced Zillow Group will present at this year’s Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference in San Francisco.

Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer Jeremy Hofmann will participate in a fireside chat on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 10:50 a.m. PT / 1:50 p.m. ET.

Register and access the live webcast here. Live and recorded versions of the webcast will also be available under the Events & Presentations section on Zillow Group’s Investor Relations website.

About Zillow Group:

Zillow Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make home a reality for more and more people.

As the most visited real estate app and website in the United States, Zillow connects hundreds of millions of consumers with innovative technology, trusted agents and loan officers, and seamless digital solutions. With industry-leading tools and resources, Zillow supercharges real estate professionals so they can grow their businesses and deliver exceptional client experiences. For renters and housing providers, Zillow offers not only a robust marketplace but a set of end-to-end products and services to streamline applications, leases, payments and more.

Zillow’s ecosystem spans the entire home journey — from dreaming and shopping to renting, buying, selling and financing.

Zillow Group’s affiliates, subsidiaries and brands include Zillow®, Zillow Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans®, Zillow Rentals®, Zillow® New Construction, Trulia®, StreetEasy®, Out East®, HotPads®, Follow Up Boss®, ShowingTime®, dotloop® and Zillow® Closing.

All marks herein are owned by MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). © 2026 MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate.

(ZFIN)

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SOURCE Zillow Group, Inc.