O’Reilly Automotive Foundation awards $10,000 grant to WRTP | BIG STEP
MILWAUKEE, WIS. (July 30, 2025) — Milwaukee-area jobseekers have a new resource to help them start career pathways in the skilled trades.
The Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership | Building Industry Group Skilled Trade Employment Program (WRTP | BIG STEP) received a $10,000 grant from the O’Reilly Automotive Foundation, the philanthropy arm of O’Reilly Auto Parts, to update the computer lab at its Milwaukee office. The grant funded the purchase of 15 computers, 15 monitors and accessories for the computers.
WRTP | BIG STEP provides free certified pre-apprenticeship training at its Milwaukee, Madison and Racine offices, in addition to offering services in northern Wisconsin. In 2024, the nonprofit served more than 2,200 people. The training prepares individuals to go directly into registered apprenticeships in construction and manufacturing jobs, paving the path to stable, family-sustaining careers. ACCUPLACER or TABE testing is a prerequisite for an apprenticeship, so having up-to-date technology in the computer lab is critical.
“WRTP | BIG STEP graduates almost 70% of all certified pre-apprentices in Wisconsin,” said Lindsay Blumer, CEO and president of WRTP | BIG STEP. “Our computer lab gets a lot of use from the community, and the generous grant from the O’Reilly Automotive Foundation ensures our technology is reliable for every tester using the lab.”
The WRTP | BIG STEP grant is part of a year-end round of giving for the O’Reilly Foundation, which awarded $1 million across 35 nonprofits nationwide. It’s the largest distribution of funds from the foundation since its founding in 2020.
“Workforce development is one of our focus areas because we know it’s so important to building strong communities,” said Julie Gray, president of the O’Reilly Automotive Foundation. “A lack of access to computer equipment shouldn’t keep people from achieving their dreams and supporting their families.”
About WRTP | BIG STEP
The mission of the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership | Building Industry Group Skilled Trade Employment Program (WRTP | BIG STEP) is to enhance the ability of public and private sector organizations to recruit, develop and retain a more diverse, qualified workforce in construction, manufacturing and emerging sectors of the regional economy. The nonprofit serves Wisconsin residents in the Milwaukee, Madison, Racine, and northern Wisconsin regions.
About O’Reilly Automotive Foundation, Inc.
The O’Reilly Automotive Foundation continues the philanthropic legacy of the O’Reilly family as a dependable community partner, supporting organizations and programs that address issues critical to improving the quality of life for underserved and underrepresented individuals and families. The Foundation concentrates its giving in the areas of economic stability and mobility, workforce development, health and social services and disaster relief.
About O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.
Since 1957, O’Reilly Automotive, Inc., has grown from a family-owned company to a leader in the automotive replacement parts industry. It supplies equipment, tools, parts, and accessories to professional service providers and do-it-yourself customers across the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Canada. With more than 6,200 store locations and growing, the O’Reilly Professional Parts People deliver excellent customer service, knowledge and value to the communities they serve.
