Contact: Morna Foy, Wisconsin Technical College System, 608-266-1207
Anne Lupardus, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162
$700,000 in Grants Will Train 5,000 Workers Throughout Wisconsin
FOND DU LAC – Governor Jim Doyle announced today that 13 Wisconsin technical colleges throughout the state will share more than $700,000 in grant funds from the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) in the form of Workforce Advancement Training grants. These grants will be used to train 5,000 Wisconsin workers. Governor Doyle allocated $1 million for each year of the biennium for the WTCS to use for worker training grants.
“In today’s global economy, the competition is across the ocean, not just across county or state lines,” Governor Doyle said. “These grants enable businesses to take advantage of the world-class training opportunities provided by Wisconsin’s great technical college system and help ensure that Wisconsin continues to have a highly-trained, highly-skilled workforce that’s producing the best quality products.”
The Workforce Advancement Training grants were awarded to technical colleges throughout the state to work in collaboration with local businesses to increase the knowledge and skills of the Wisconsin workforce. The purpose of the WTCS Workforce Advancement Training grants is to promote increased investment in the development of incumbent workers. Grant funding will help Wisconsin employees upgrade their skills and productivity; providing improved job security, increased career opportunities, and support for regional workforce and economic development efforts.
“This is a great investment in Wisconsin’s workforce, because upgrading the knowledge and skills of individuals who are already on the job is key to keeping Wisconsin businesses and residents productive and prosperous,” President of the Wisconsin Technical College System Dan Clancy said. “The technical colleges are really excited to have this new opportunity, which goes a long way toward our mission of maintaining a globally competitive workforce.”
“My Administration has been focused on lifting our entire economy up to compete at the high end,” Governor Doyle said. “Moving forward, we’re going to keep capitalizing on our strengths – excellent schools, universities, and technical colleges; a legacy of innovation; a commitment to quality; and a workforce that’s second-to-none.”
A breakdown of dispersal of the grants is as follows:
- Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) received $64,915 to work with Spectrum Industries, Nestle, and Wisconsin Bench on workforce advancement. CVTC will work with these businesses to train nearly 200 workers in the Chippewa Valley area.
- Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) received $14,770 to train 173 JanSport employees.
- Gateway Technical College (GTC) received $71,931 to work with SC Johnson, Gormac Products, LDV Inc, Limtech, and Gyrus AMCI on workforce advancement. GTC will work with these businesses serving nearly 400 workers in the southeast Wisconsin area.
- Lakeshore Technical College (LTC) received $81,863 to work with Rockline Industries and Johnsonville Sausage. LTC will train nearly 300 workers in that area.
- Madison Area Technical College (MATC) is receiving $92,157. MATC will train nearly 1,000 workers from Madison Kipp Corporation, Briggs & Stratton, Cardinal Glass, Clack Corporation, Humane Manufacturing, LA Darling, Nestle Purina Pet Care, Placon, Seats Inc., and Webcrafters.
- Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC) is receiving $56,726 to work with Mercury Marine on workforce advancement training. MPTC and Mercury Marine will work together to train 1,500 of Mercury Marine’s employees.
- Nicolet Area Technical College (NATC) is receiving $27,500 to work with Customized Manufacturing Oldenburg Lake Shore, Inc. to train 50 employees
- Northcentral Technical College (NTC) is receiving $70,445 to work with Merit Gear, Graphic Packaging, Wausau Window and Wall Systems, and MarquipWardUnited/Lionite Products/Blount. NTC will work together with these companies to train 200 employees.
- Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) is receiving $ $39,638 to work with Georgia-Pacific. NWTC and Georgia Pacific will work together to train 260 of GP’s employees.
- Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (SWTC) is receiving a total of $63,198 for work with Lactalis and Cabela’s to advance southwestern Wisconsin’s workforce. SWTC will work together with these businesses to train 167 employees in the southwestern Wisconsin area.
- Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) is receiving $65,300 to work with Seaquist Closures on workforce advancement training. WCTC and Seaquist will work together to train 440 of Seaquist’s employees.
- Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (WITC) is receiving $24,719 to work with OEM Fabricators to train 190 of OEM Fabricators’ employees.
- Western Wisconsin Technical College (WWTC) is receiving $33,214 to work with Midwest Security/United Healthcare and D&S Manufacturing. WWTC will work together with these businesses to train 130 workers in the Western Wisconsin area.
