November 2010
| Vol 1, Issue 25 |
|
|
|
Workforce Development in Wisconsin  |
|
|
|
| Greetings! |
 The Wisconsin Workforce Development Association continues to work with Wisconsin's employers, job seekers, and lawmakers to find workforce and economic solutions. We are proud of the programs and services that helped over 1 million visitors to our Job Centers in 2009.
|
SAVE THE DATE
| 
The Wisconsin Workforce Development Association's Day at the Capitol will be March 3rd, 2011.
|
|
 |
| Want More Updates? Click Below | |
|
|
|
INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS ARE STRENGTHENING SECTORS THROUGHOUT THE STATE
|
Wisconsin's Workforce Development Boards, in partnership with the Department of Workforce Development, have been working to convene and advance Wisconsin's Industry Partnerships. The partnerships are formed at the regional level in the identified key sectors of advanced manufacturing, health care, and energy. The partnership ensures that employers in those key industry sectors can connect with each other, identify shared needs of an industry and work with partners to design new systems that will solve the identified problems.
They help to identify:
- Employee and skill needs - now and into the future
 - Shared training and other industry needs
- Modernization and other technology issues
- Key human resource issues in the industry
(cultural, disabilities, mentoring, etc.)
- Supplier/efficiency issues
Industry leadership is matched with support from multiple partners, including: workforce development boards, industry and trade associations, organized labor, educational institutions, training providers, economic development groups, community-based organizations, local government agencies, and private foundations. Wisconsin's Workforce Development Boards (through the GROW regions) have received a number of grants for Industry Partnership development and training. For a map and listing of sector initiatives and grants received click here.
|
| OJT PROGRAM ASSISTS BOTH LOCAL EMPLOYER, DISLOCATED WORKER | |
Orchid International, Monroe, was seeking a person with a quality engineering background with auto industry experience. Mike Grebner, a Monroe resident who had worked at both Dura Automotive for 16 years and most recently John Deere for three years prior to being laid off, was seeking a job where he could use his engineering and automotive knowledge. The Workforce Investment Act (WIA)-funded On-The-Job-Training (OJT) helped to bring both together in what  has been perfect match.
The On-The-Job Training program, a statewide Workforce Development Board program provides occupational training and reimbursement to the employer of up to half of the employee's wage rate as compensation for the employer's 'extraordinary' costs. For Grebner, that means 400 hours of OJT provided by the Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board (SWWDB), an ran from June 1 to August 31, 2010. He is working on both automotive projects for General Motors and wind turbine engineering projects. "It has been very beneficial to both me and Orchid to learn these projects," Grebner said. Read more...
|
MILWAUKEE RECEIVES $3 MILLION GRANT FOR HEALTH CARE TRAINING
|
The city of Milwaukee will receive a $3.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to create the CareerWorks Healthcare Training Institute.
The CareerWorks Healthcare Training Institute will provide health care career resources, training and support services. Following the completion of the educational programs, individuals will be provided with the credentials necessary to begin a career in health care.
"This grant will enable more than 1,500 low-income and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) participants in the Milwaukee-area greater opportunities to pursue a career in health care," said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.
The Health Profession Opportunity Grant is being awarded to the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board. Data indicates that the health sector remains one of the fastest growing industries in the Milwaukee region with an anticipated increase of 13 percent in health care-related occupations over the years 2008 to 2015. According to the Wisconsin's Workforce and Labor Market Information System, 15 of the top 25 "high growth" occupations are in health care related fields.
Read more: WISPOLITCS Press Release
|
KUDOS FOR WISCONSIN'S WORKFORCE BOARDS!
|
The Wisconsin Workforce Development Association has collected a number of 1-2 minute testimonials from employers, workers, and youth about their experiences with the Workforce Boards and the enormous impact on their lives. You can now view them on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/WIWorkforceDevtAssoc
|
|
|
|
Mari Kay
Wisconsin Workforce Development Association
| |
|
