Contacts:
Jessica Erickson, Office of Governor Doyle, 608-261-2156
OSHKOSH – Governor Jim Doyle outlined his three principles
for worker training legislation today during a visit to Basler Turbo
Conversions, an aircraft manufacturer in Oshkosh.
“We’ve made a lot of strides in the past year to grow our
entire economy and create jobs,” Governor Doyle said. “However, we cannot
create opportunities for all people if we don’t make investments in our
workforce. It’s simple – in today’s competitive global economy, we must
make sure our workers are ready to do the job, and do it well.”
In September, Governor Doyle unveiled his “Grow Wisconsin”
economic development plan. The plan includes a worker training initiative
that invests $10 million to provide free job training services to
manufacturing businesses that create significant numbers of new jobs in
Wisconsin, or make major investments in their workplace.
“The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn at the end of this
week,” Governor Doyle said. “I urge them to spend their final few days
focused on the important work that remains to create jobs – in particular,
on passing legislation to invest in job training. I’m willing to work with
Democrats and Republicans to get this bill passed. But before I sign it, I
want to make sure that the bill meets three principles.”
The Governor said his three principles for a worker training bill
are:
* First, a worker training bill must allow the Department of Commerce
to coordinate and package incentives – including worker training and other
existing incentives – to recruit new businesses to Wisconsin or expand
existing businesses in Wisconsin.
* Second, the bill should allow Commerce to provide funding for
multiple providers of training, recognizing that no single institution may
be able to meet the needs of every business.
* Third, a bill should permit the full funding of training for
companies that greatly expand their workforce or make major capital
investments in their business. It must provide a new investment, not simply
shift existing economic development resources from one worthy program to
another.
