| Bay Area Workforce Board Looks Toward Future Workforce Needs |
The Bay Area Workforce Development Board, as part of a consortium of area technical colleges and businesses is looking to future work force needs in the energy sector and has secured almost $1 million to train the next generation of workers.
The $987,904 grant was announced Monday after being secured by a combined effort between Wisconsin Public Service, Dominion Energy, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Lakeshore Technical College, Manitowoc, and the Bay Area Workforce Development Board.
The groups came together to form the NEW Energy Project. "It's going to help us have a work force that's going to stay strong well into the 21st century," said Wisconsin Public Service chairman Charlie Schrock. "As us baby boomers move through the system, we're projecting a need for literally hundreds of employees in the future. For WPS, 30 to 40 percent of our work force is going to be eligible for retirement in the next few years ... we need those resources coming on."
The 4th annual Northwoods Economic Summit was held October 4th in Pembine. The 100+ attendees heard from a number of business owners who addressed the importance of partnerships between education and business. Jim Golembeski, Executive Director of the Bay Area Workforce Board and one of the event organizers
stressed the need for collaboration and partnerships. "We're discovering that as we face the challenges of developing the workforce of the future, it's going to be critical that business and education work together to achieve that," said Golembeski.
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| Western Wisconsin Workforce Development Board Releases 2008 State of the Workforce Report |
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The annual report highlights local activities in the Western Workforce Development Area including Buffalo, Trempealeau, Jackson, LaCrosse, Monroe, Vernon, Juneau, and Crawford counties. These include:
- Continuation of the Disability Navigator program which supports individuals with disabilities as they make their way through the workforce development system
- Co-sponsorship of a teleconference on diversity with the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Extended Education Programs.
- Working with our workforce development partners in Southeastern Minnesota and Northeastern Iowa to develop and implement strategies for workforce development.
- Development of a regional training program for new workers in manufacturing that addresses the same set of skills and competencies in Western Wisconsin, Northeast Iowa and Southeast Minnesota.
- Formation of the ECO-DEVO Alliance, a group of individuals involved in economic development.
- Provided assistance with the formation of "Industry Clusters." EMMA (Equipment and Metal Manufacturing Association) is now an independent 501(c)(6) corporation that meets regularly and is expanding membership
throughout the tri-state region. |
| WWDA Annual Report Now Available! |
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View the 2008 Wisconsin Workforce Development Association Annual Report! |
