September 2011

Vol 1, Issue 33

kid with kite

Workforce Development in Wisconsin WWDA Logo

Greetings!

 

September is workforce development month in the State of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Workforce Development Association (WWDA) has numerous events planned across the state to help job seekers and employers connect.  We invite you to attend an Open House for legislators or other event near you to see the Workforce Boards and their partners in action!  A complete calendar of events can be found at here! 

 

WWDA is committed to working with the industries and small businesses in our local workforce areas who drive our regional economies.    

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Contact Your Local Workforce Board
WDA map
Wisconsin's Workforce Development Areas
Click here for contact information for the areas.
PRESIDENT OBAMA TO ANNOUNCE JOB CREATION PROPOSAL THURSDAY NIGHT
DC photo
President Obama has requested a joint session of Congress on Thursday, September 8 at 8:00 pm ET to announce his job creation proposal to boost employment and the economy. There has been a great deal of speculation in the media about what initiatives the President will put forward in his plan, which is expected to include some mixture of infrastructure investment, tax credits, and retraining programs focused on aiding the long-term unemployed

 

In This Issue
PRESIDENT TO ANNOUNCE JOB CREATION STRATEGY ON 9/8
WORKFORCE DEV'T MONTH EVENTS!
BUILDING FUTURES CELEBRATION!
LEGISLATORS MAKE VISITS ACROSS THE STATE DURING AUGUST RECESS
WHY WORKFORCE INVESTMENT?
Workforce Development Month Events!
Calendar
Join WWDA for an event near you! There are open houses, workshops for job seekers & employers, youth events, job fairs, and more to choose from!  Come see the services available to those who need help finding employment!

 

Quick Links

SEPTEMBER IS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MONTH IN WISCONSIN!  

 

 

 Throughout the month, DWD and its regional partners will highlight programs and services to empower and support Wisconsin's workforce as part of Governor Walker's overall strategy to advance the economy and help create private sector jobs. Events will include third anniversary celebrations of DWD's online employment site, JobCenterofWisocnsin.Com, which was launched in September 2008.

The Wisconsin Workforce Development Association has planned numerous events across the state. There are open houses for legislators, job seeker and employer workshops, employment sessions, job fairs, and more! You can see what we have planned on our
statewide calendar! 

 

BUILDING FUTURES CELEBRATION!

 

Sen Roh Johnson

From left to right: Dr. Barbara Prindiville, president of Waukesha County Technical College; Senator Ron Johnson; and Francisco Sanchez, president of Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington Workforce Development Board.

Senator Ron Johnson joined Francisco Sanchez, president of the Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington Workforce Development Board (WOW WDB) and community leaders to unveil a mural created by participants in the Building Futures, YouthBuild program operated by the WOW WDB.

 

Against all odds, these young adults who were high school dropouts have earned their GED, employer-recognized construction certificate, and leadership skills in six short months. In the past eighteen months, 70 young adults have earned the credentials above, and simultaneously rehabilitated five low-income homes. The mural is one of several community projects planned and executed by Building Futures participants. Building Futures, a YouthBuild funded program, is a Federal initiative of the U.S. Dept of Labor Employment and Training Administration.

LEGISLATORS MAKE VISITS ACROSS THE STATE DURING AUGUST RECESS TO SEE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARDS IN ACTION!  

 Senator Kohl Visits Ocean Spray Cranberries  

Kohl
North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board Executive Director, Rene Daniels, greets Senator Herb Kohl during his visit to Ocean Spray Cranberries. Kohl was in Wisconsin Rapids on Monday, Aug. 15th to speak on job creation and food safety.
"We have an economy that's not providing the level of jobs needed, and the No. 1 issue is getting people back to work," Kohl said Monday August 15th at Ocean Spray Cranberries' processing plant. "We need to provide every opportunity we can to create jobs in rural Wisconsin and rural America.

 

"The 76-year-old Democrat, who leads the Senate panel that provides oversight to the Food and Drug Administration, made the afternoon stop at the Ocean Spray facility, which recently garnered the cranberry giant's Plant of the Year title for the third consecutive year. He spoke about the importance of the industry, ensuring food safety regulations and job creation.

Full article...

 

 

Duffy_Visit

 

NWWIB Chief Executive Officer Mari Kay-Nabozny, Ashland Industries Inside Sales Coordinator/Marketing Assistant Jessica Gallagher, Ashland Industries President Randy Rust, Congressman Sean Duffy, and CEP, Inc. Chief Operating Officer Brad Gingras.

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Congressman Duffy Visits Ashland Job Center

 

 

LOCAL BUSINESSES BENEFIT FROM TRANSITIONAL JOBS PROGRAM  

 

Small businesses are the largest employer in Wisconsin, but the current economic uncertainty is causing small businesses to be hesitant to hire new employees.

 

Eco-Latch Systems, LLC, a startup company based around owner Jack Wilson's eco-friendly packaging invention, the Box Latch; and McClure Wood Finishing, a small woodworking business owned and operated by Mike McClure are two small businesses in Jefferson, Wisconsin that were looking to increase their productivity and efficiency, but were unsure of the financial risk of taking on a new employee.

 

Transitional Jobs is one program in the area that is helping businesses find the ideal solution to take on new employees without having to shoulder the costs or time-consuming paperwork of hiring. The program gives businesses the opportunity to help dislocated or unemployed workers re-enter the workforce by subsidizing full-time employment for participants for up to six months while they learn new job skills and gain valuable work experience. The Transitional Jobs program provides eligible participants with an immediate income as well as job training and work experience that the local labor market demands.

 

Wilson and McClure have teamed up to work with Transitional Jobs participant Brock Folts in order to expand their operations while giving Folts the opportunity to gain full-time work experience as well as training in woodworking, manufacturing, and shipping.

 

Folts, a dislocated worker in his 20s, had been laid off from his manufacturing job and had been struggling with unemployment for over half a year when he heard about the Transitional Jobs program. Looking for a way to get back into the workforce and find the financial means to support his 11-month-old daughter,he signed up and quickly found the full-time employment he was seeking.

 

"It definitely makes you feel better about yourself to finally get a job after six months," Folts said. "After being unemployed for six months you'd think no one would wanna hire you because you've been out of work for so long...I'm trying not to take [this opportunity] for granted."  Read Full Article...  

ABOUT US

The Wisconsin Workforce Development Association  (WWDA) is an association of the leadership of the 11 workforce development regions of Wisconsin. This 33 member body consists of the 11 Private Sector Business Workforce Board Chairs, the 11 Chief Elected Officials representing local government and the 11 Executive Officers of the Regional Workforce Development Organizations. Together they represent: over 170 local businesses across the state who are the majority of members and as well as the business leadership that guides our member Workforce Development Boards.

    

WWDA is always  available as a resource for any legislator with questions on the workforce investment system in Wisconsin.  Please do not hesitate to contact us!

 

WHY WORKFORCE INVESTMENT?

A new national website www.workforceinvestmentworks.com allows you to search your state for the the success stories related to the the Workforce Investment Act.  There is also a brief video that highlights what the Workforce Boards do across the nation.
Mari Kay
Wisconsin Workforce Development Association

 

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