The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development has awarded a total of $2.1 million to 30 school-to-work programs across the state.
The grants are for development or expansion of innovative programs that prepare high school students for the workforce or post-secondary education by offering them training in high-demand fields. About 950 students will benefit from the grants, and up to 153 companies could employ them.
The DWD and the state Department of Public Instruction worked together to develop criteria for the grants.
“Thanks to Governor Walker’s vision, high school pupils will have an opportunity to learn new skills that are in demand by employers, and earn a semester or more of technical college credit while still in high school,” said DWD Secretary Reggie Newson. “The experience translates directly to future success in the classroom or on the shop floor. These are the kinds of innovative collaborations that effectively address Wisconsin’s skills gap and move our state forward.”
Among the local programs receiving grants are Gateway Technical College in Racine and Kenosha counties, which was awarded $149,512; Trace-A-Matic Corp. in Waukesha County, $130,000; Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board in Milwaukee County, $129,800; Bruno Independent Living Aids, Inc. in Waukesha and Ozaukee counties, $128,344; WRTP/Big Step in Milwaukee County, $122,751; CL&D Graphics in Waukesha County, $120,100; Mishicot School District in Sheboygan County, $87,384; GPS Education Partners in Waukesha County, $85,027; CESA 6 in Racine, Walworth and Waukesha counties, $57,150; Lakeshore Technical College in Sheboygan County, $32,064; School District of New Berlin in Waukesha County, $27,990; Lakeshore Technical College (Hospitality) in Sheboygan, $19,444; and Lakeshore Technical College in Sheboygan (Safety), $13,629.
“Transforming education is a core part of my administration’s focus,” said Gov. Scott Walker. “The Blueprint for Prosperity will increase opportunities for hundreds of high school students across Wisconsin to pursue training in high-demand fields like manufacturing, information technology and construction. We will continue to prioritize efforts that prepare students for family-supporting jobs here in Wisconsin.”
