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Vontasia Travis graduated from Beloit Memorial High School in June, 2012. Thanks to Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board's WIA In-School Youth program and Community Action, she knows where her occupational future lies. "I was looking at health care and customer service as possible career options, and I decided that health care was where I wanted to focus," she explained.

 

One of the first to complete the academic portion of her Fresh Start Program, Vontasia decided on health care because she said she likes to help others in need. She'll be attending Blackhawk Technical College this fall to earn her Medical Assistant certificate, combining her recently-learned computer skills with her health care interests. "She is a motivated young lady who is working hard to better herself and her family," said Nicole Ditzenberger, Vontasia's WIA Transition Coordinator at the Community Action Pathways Center.

 

In fact, Vontasia's family now includes a young daughter born only a few weeks ago to join her 11-month-old son. "Despite having family obligations, I really enjoyed the classes I took," Vontasia said. "Fortunately, they weren't as difficult as I thought they might be." The Community Action program which assists students in earning their certification in Microsoft Office through their Skills Enhancement program was an excellent fit for Vontasia early in her senior year at BMHS. When Ditzenberger started working closely with the South Central Area Health Education Center to bring the Youth Health Service Corps (YHSC) to those interested in health careers, Vontasia took full advantage. The YHSC explores health careers, teaches through service learning projects, and helps students acquire the skills necessary to become a competitive job candidate in the health care industry.

 

"I attended a Health Career Fair at Community Action and signed up for YHSC right away," Vontasia said. She toured schools, health care facilities and completed a service learning project about disabilities. In addition, she attended the Women's Health Care Policy Summit in Madison where she learned about health care issues facing women in Wisconsin. 

 

Keys to Work, a program operated by the Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington (W-O-W) Workforce Development Board since 2005, serves eligible low-income residents in Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington Counties whose primary barrier to employment is transportation. Keys to Work provides loans for automobile purchases and repairs. Since the program's inception, Keys to Work has provided over 171 loans through the program's banking partner, First Federal Bank of Wisconsin.

 

Keys to Work provides loans up to $4,500 per participant, including tax, title, and license fees. Loans are provided at 0% interest with a set 27-month repayment plan of equal monthly installments not exceeding $167. Eligible participants must work a minimum of 30 hours per week, have been with their current employer for at least 3 months, and demonstrate the ability to assume additional debt. Approved program applicants are required to complete a no-cost financial literacy training program which teaches participants about budgeting and the importance of making payments on time. Participants are required to provide proof of insurance coverage before closing on the loan. Loan recipients are also eligible to receive a small repair grant which pays 50 (up to $500) of major repair costs over the life of the loan, contingent upon the participant making timely loan payments.

 

In addition to the auto loan and small repair grant, Keys to Work provides an auto repair loan for eligible applicants working at least 30 hours per week. Auto repair loans have a repayment period of 12 months and cannot exceed $1,200. This loan is also 0% interest and requires the participant to go through a financial review and provide proof of insurance.

 

As a result of Keys to Work, participants have reported the ability to obtain higher paying jobs, receive increased wages at existing jobs, attend additional job training programs, keep their existing job, and/or eliminate the need to take costly taxicabs to and from work. Participants of the program typically would not be able to qualify for conventional financing due to poor credit or no credit history. Keys to Work participants establish a solid re-payment history which can increase their existing credit score by 30 to 60 points.

 

Keys to Work is funded through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation / Wisconsin Employment Transportation Assistance Program and integrates State and Federal funding sources into one coordinated program to help local areas address transportation needs for low-income workers. The W-O-W Workforce Development Board uses Keys to Work funding to guarantee the loans and make interest payments while participants pay down principal balances.

 

Applications for Keys to Work are currently being accepted and are available from the W-O-W Workforce Development Board (www.wowwdb.org / 262.695.7880).

Bay Area's Work Certified Training Classes Brings Success to a Youth 

Wisconsin Workforce Development Association 

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