The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development announced on Thursday its intent to award 45 grants totaling $2.5 million to develop or expand employer-driven training programs that prepare high school pupils for workforce or post-secondary education success in high-demand fields. The grant funding will train up to 1,102 high school students and could involve employment at up to 250 employers.
Among others, the DWD intends to award $142,718 to Butler-based GPS Education Partners; $97,720 to the School District of New Berlin; $72,826 to Gateway Technical College; $60,637 to Milwaukee Public Schools; and $56,152 to the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board.
“Governor Walker’s Wisconsin Fast Forward – Blueprint for Prosperity High School Pupil grant program is addressing the skills gap while strengthening career and technical education in our state,” said DWD secretary Reggie Newson. “This second round of grant awards will help develop a young and ready-to-work pipeline of skilled workers with the industry training and certifications required by Wisconsin employers.”
Gov. Scott Walker’s Wisconsin Fast Forward program was approved in 2013 with bipartisan support to address the skills gap through a $15 million investment in grants to employers for customized skills training to fill current job openings and ongoing skill requirements.
In March 2014, Walker signed legislation under his Blueprint for Prosperity initiative to invest an additional $35.4 million in the Wisconsin Fast Forward program to reduce technical college wait lists in high-demand fields, enhance employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and support collaborative school-to-work projects. The first round of High School Pupil Worker Training grants funded 30 projects to train and employ 949 high school students.
