Workforce Development in Wisconsin WWDA Logo

June 2012
Vol 1, Issue 40

Greetings!

 

Summer is finally here but WWDA is not slowing down! As you can see from the Upcoming Events section there are numerous workforce and economic development events scheduled throughout the upcoming months. Statewide activities and partnerships continues to be the focus of the Wisconsin Workforce Development Association and are the highlight of these monthly newsletters. 

 

WWDA hopes that you find these articles and information helpful.You can view articles below or use the sidebar on the right to navigate to specific titles.  We welcome questions and encourage you to contact us at [email protected].

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Fox Valley Health Care Alliance Serves Sector's Needs

 

The Fox Valley Workforce Development Board (FVWDB) serves our communities by providing individuals an opportunity to seek their fullest potential while affording businesses the opportunity to recruit the highest quality employees. Given that healthcare is Wisconsin's second largest employer, the FVWDB realized a healthcare shortage could be detrimental to the citizens of Wisconsin. To address this looming need, the FVWDB brought educators and healthcare employers from the Fox Valley together to collaborate on the Fox Valley Health Care Alliance (FVHCA). The FVWDB's charge was to remain a neutral facilitator and assist the Alliance in establishing goals, define outcomes, formulate and execute strategies, and assess the impact. The current purpose of the Fox Valley Health Care Alliance is to ensure an abundant supply of healthcare workers in our region now and in the future by working collaboratively with all stakeholders. The FVHCA is a strong, working partnership comprised of area healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and community partners who work together on numerous healthcare-related projects.

 

FVHCA members were concerned about the lack of available "real" information regarding their employees' intentions to leave the healthcare workforce and/or retire.  Therefore, the membership developed a survey tool that would poll all healthcare workers individually.  They also developed a survey tool for Human Resources Departments to do staffing assessments in order to compare results to the employee piece.  Planning for the Retirement and Departures Intentions survey began in mid-2011.

 

Surveying lasted from mid-2011 through late-2011, culminating in responses from 8,524 employees representing eight major healthcare employers. The average employee response rate per organization was 55 percent, with several organizations over a 60 percent response rate. The results of the survey are presented in the on the FVHCA website at:  http://www.fvhca.org/

 

In order to keep the discussion of the survey results moving forward, the FVHCA and FVWDB are hosting a summit on June 21st from 1-4pm on "Sustaining the Healthcare Workforce." Area healthcare facility representatives, education leaders, and legislators are coming together for an afternoon of learning and discussion on important issues regarding the current and future state of the healthcare workforce.  Audience members will be given an opportunity to ask questions of a panel of experts and to participate in this valuable discussion, as well as providing input vital to establishing a road map for sustaining Wisconsin's healthcare workforce in the FVWDA.
On-the-Job Training Benefits for Job Seekers and Employers   

On-the-Job Training (OJT) dollars are available to employers in all industries. OJT funding provides training reimbursements to employers who hire individuals who may have the aptitude and ability to do a specific job but need additional training. OJT reimbursements assist employers by offsetting the cost to train a new employee. The length of each OJT period is dependent on the amount of training needed and the complexity of the job. The percentage of wage reimbursement is based on the size of the company.

 

Number of Employees

Percent of Training Wage Reimbursement

 

1 - 50

90%*

51 - 250

75%*

250 +

50%

*Gap between participant's initial skill level and skill level needed to perform the job will also be factors in determining reimbursement

 

The Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington Workforce Development Board was awarded a $4.9 million Department of Labor H1-B TIME (Training Individuals for Manufacturing Employment) Grant. This grant provides additional OJT funding to local employers in the manufacturing industry. Key collaborative partners for this project include employers from the Wisconsin Precision Metalworking Council (WPMC), Milwaukee 7 Manufacturing Industry Partnership, and the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership (WRTP/Big Step).

 

In program year 2011, the Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington Workforce Development Board was successful in placing over 686 individuals at local businesses in Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington Counties. Many of these placements were secured by employers who utilized OJT reimbursement dollars which typically leads to long-term successful employment for our residents.

 

Senator Herb Kohl and Senator Ron Johnson proudly support the Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington County Workforce Development Board's On-the-Job Training Project and stated, "Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington Workforce Development, Inc. has a proud history of training employees in specialty fields. At a time when manufacturing is rebounding here in Wisconsin, this funding will go a long way in helping this sector prepare and train more workers in advanced manufacturing industries."

 

For more information on OJTs, please contact the Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington Workforce Development Board (www.wowwdb.org / 262.695.7880).  

Building Bridges & Building Life Skills at Crex Meadows Youth Conservation Camp  

 

The Crex Meadows Youth Conservation Camp, located in Grantsburg, WI, is a very unique summer option for eligible teens from northwest Wisconsin. Over the past five years, applications for camp have steadily increased. This year, camp received its highest number of applications ever-125 applications for 76 available openings. Nearly every school within the ten county region the camp serves will be represented. The camp is a partnership between Northwest Wisconsin CEP, Inc., the Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board, Inc., and the federal Workforce Investment Act.

Campers work with the DNR on a variety of projects at the 30,000-acre Crex Meadows Wildlife Area and Governor Knowles State Forest and are paid for their labor, which is an unusual feature for a summer camp and holds great interest for campers. In the past, campers have removed invasive plant species, performed native seed collection, built bridges to increase trail accessibility, and assisted in the entire Canadian Geese banding process.

"Last year, there was a severe wind storm in Grantsburg. The campers during one of the sessions worked on post-storm clean up, which was a great experience because the campers got to work and be involved in the community and with the community members," said Suzannah Crandall, Camp Director.

In addition to their work with the DNR, campers participate in a hands-on science and life-skill based curriculum. Some of the science activities have included plant and animal identification, radio telemetry and triangulation, and analyzing and examining water samples. Local school districts support the camp by rewarding the campers with science or elective credit that can be used towards high school graduation. A distinctive aspect of the camp curriculum is that it is delivered by people from different organizations, allowing campers to be exposed to a diverse wealth of knowledge.Some of the organizations participating in this summer's upcoming activities are: Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (WITC), Crex Meadows Education Staff, and DNR Interns.

In This Issue
Fox Valley Health Care Alliance Serves Sector's Needs
On-the-Job Training Benefits for Job Seekers and Employers
Building Bridges & Building Life Skills at Crex Meadows Youth Conservation Camp
WHY WORKFORCE INVESTMENT
Quick Links & Resources
UPCOMING WORKFORCE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EVENTSevents
Calendar

JOB FAIRS  

        

Veteran Career and Benefit Fair, June 12
Appleton,
9:00-2:00 pm
Fox Valley Technical College Rm. A170-A175
1825 N. Bluemound Rd. (Entrance 16)
Kelly Aschebrook,            920-968-6081       

   

Veteran Career and Benefit Fair,  June 27

La Crosse  

9 am - 2 pm
Location: Western Technical College, Lunda Center, 319 7th St. North, La Crosse
Contact: Rickie Larson, 608/785-9376, or Vern Tranberg, 608/785-9363.  

   

Veterans Career and Benefit Fair, July 12

Milwaukee

  9 am - 3 pm
Location: Milwaukee County WAR Memorial Center, 750 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr., Milwaukee
Contact: Stan Kogutkiewicz, 262/695-7790, or Greg Williams, 414/389-6293.    

 

Veterans Only Job Fair, July 18

Kenosha
** This event is limited to veterans **

  Location: Gateway Technical College, Madrigrano Auditorium, 3520 30th Ave., Kenosha
Contact: Jerry Costello, 262/697-4707.    

 

Veteran Career and Benefit Fair, August 16

Watertown

  10 am - 3 pm
Location: Madison Area Technical College, 1300 W. Main St., Watertown
Contact: Michael Beck, 608/242-4910, or Stan Kogutkiewicz, 262/695-7790.   

Veteran Career and Benefit Fair,  September 7

Fort McCoy  

Location: Wisconsin Military Academy, Fort McCoy
Contact: Rickie Larson, 608/785-9376, or Vern Tranberg, 608/785-9363.   

 

Dane County Job Fair, September 12

Madison

 10 am - 3 pm
Location: Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison
Contact: Therus Collins, 608/242-4884.   

 

Kenosha County Job Fair, September 19

Bristol

12:30-3:30 pm
Location: Kenosha County Center, 19600 75th St., Bristol
Contact: Rebecca Freund, 262/697-4610.  

       

Fall 2012 Health Care Career Fair, Appleton   

Date/time: Monday, October 15, 11 am - 3:30 pm
Location: Fox Valley Technical College, 1825 N. Bluemound Dr., Appleton
Contact: Sarah Kriha, 920/424-2181.

 

Summit in the Heartland Event, June 14-15

Chicago, IL

More Information 

 

UPCOMING WEDA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES

 

Writing a Winning Response to an RFP
June 14, 2012 12:30 - 5:30 pm
DoubleTree Hotel 
525 West Johnson Street
Madison, WI 53703

Course Objective: How to prepare more effective and compelling proposals that help advance your community through the site search process instead of being eliminated because of a poor proposal submission.

More Information and Registration


Sales Skills for Economic Development Professionals
June 15, 2012 8:00 am - 12:30 pm 
DoubleTree Hotel 
525 West Johnson Street
Madison, WI 53703

Course Objective: How to hone your sales skills relevant for site selection and expansion decisions, in order to keep your community in the site search process longer instead of being eliminated early.  

More Information and Registration

 

 

WHY WORKFORCE INVESTMENT?

A new national website www.workforceinvestmentworks.com allows you to search your state for 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.
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 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!
Mari Kay
Wisconsin Workforce Development Association

 

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