A STUDY WAS CONDUCTED TO EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING COMMUNITY APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS IN WEST VIRGINIA. THE CONCEPT IS THAT A WORKER IN ONE COMPANY WOULD UNDERTAKE ON THE JOB TRAINING AT ANOTHER COMPANY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MACHINES AND EQUIPMENT NOT CURRENTLY OWNED BY HIS COMPANY. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT THIS WOULD UPGRADE THE WORK FORCE IN THE COMMUNITY, WHEREAS MOST OF THE PRESENT ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE LIMITED BY THE CURRENT NEEDS OF EACH FIRM. THE AUTHOR DISCUSSES PRECEDENTS OF THE CONCEPT. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY MET IN SEVERAL CITIES TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITIES AND PROBLEMS OF SUCH A PROGRAM. SOME OF THE PROBLEMS RAISED IN THESE MEETINGS WERE UNION ATTITUDES AND INTERESTS, SCHEDULING OF THE TRAINEE INTO THE TRAINING FIRM'S PROGRAM, LEGAL ASPECTS OF HAVING THE TRAINEE WORK WITHOUT BEING PAID BY THE TRAINING COMPANY, INJURY LIABILITIES, COMPETITIVE SECRETS, SCREENING OF TRAINEES, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN BUSINESS, UNION, AND GOVERNMENT AND BETWEEN COMPETITIVE BUSINESSES, AND GENERAL INFLUENCE OF THE STATUS QUO. WAYS OF IMPLEMENTING A COMMUNITY APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM THROUGH EXISTING ASSOCIATIONS AND AGENCIES ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. (JA)