Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board: Companies sign apprenticeship (wage$) agreements

Contact: 
Contact: Gregg Bosak
Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board (SWWDB)
Rock County Job Center
1900 Center Avenue
Janesville, WI 53545
Phone (608) 314-3300, Ext. 306
E-mail: g.bosak@swwdb.org

Five companies have signed on to become the first in the southwest region of Wisconsin to participate in the WAGE$ (Wisconsin Growth and Enhancement Strategies) program designed to promote and enroll students in apprenticeship programs. A kickoff celebration was held August 10 at Blackhawk Technical College’s Advanced Manufacturing Center in Milton.


The effort is a partnership between the Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board (SWWDB), the Wisconsin Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards, and Blackhawk Tech to help build four new Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship programs in welder/fabricator, maintenance technician, industrial electrician, and mechatronics.


Companies initially participating in the maintenance technician/industrial electrician program include Fairbanks Morse, Grande Cheese, Plastic Industries, Baker Manufacturing, and Seneca Foods.