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Welcome to the Spring Edition of Workforce Today Magazine!
Greetings!
This Spring Edition of the Workforce Today Magazine is filled with information about the latest job search technology that focuses on connecting employers and job seekers in new ways. NORTHFORCE is a regional effort that in addition to connecting job seekers and employers is focusing on attracting and retaining the region's workforce. Skill Explorer, a new initiative from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, allows job seekers to search for openings through a skills matching tool. Keep reading for more conference details, regional events, and other workforce development information.
Please let me know if you have questions on any of these articles or news items!
Mari Kay-Nabozny
* If you wish to unsubscribe to this publication please use the link at the bottom of this page.
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Business Conference Update
The Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board, Inc. is proud to be hosting the 2014 Northwest Wisconsin Business Conference on May 7-8, 2014 at the Heartwood Conference Center in Trego, WI . Conference attendees will be provided with many educational and networking opportunities as well as live entertainment from Renegade Improv! We are also very excited to have internationally known photographer and internet sensation Hannah Stonehouse Hudson, from Stonehouse Photography & The Creative Assistant, as our keynote speaker. Hannah is best known for her photos that capture the souls of animals, including the world famous photo of John & Schoep. Stonehouse Photography's work has been featured in Success Magazine, Huffington Post, Good Morning America, Fox News, CNN, The London Daily News, Lake Superior Magazine, Washington Post, St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Today Show. This year's conference will address ways to overcome today's challenges along with presenting innovative ideas and strategies to improve your business and workforce. Register today!
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2014 Business of the Year Nominations
NWWIB is seeking nominations for our 2014 Business of the Year Award. Click here to download the nomination form! All nomination forms should be submitted to Mari Kay-Nabozny by either email (mari@nwwib.com) or fax (715-682-9181). Nomination forms are due no later than Friday, April 11th.
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NORTHFORCE: Your Talent Community
 NORTHFORCE is leading the way by attracting, placing, retaining, enriching and managing the talent community for northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. NORTHFORCE is a web-based portal that connects employees with employers, promotes events and attractions, and provides resources including a searchable business directory. There are also "microsites" showcasing Duluth, Superior, and Iron Range interests while driving skilled workers to the NORTHFORCE talent community. NORTHFORCE is a collaborative initiative of APEX (Area Partnership for Economic Development), IRRRB (Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board), the Northspan Group, the City of Duluth, MN and the City of Superior, WI. The NORTHFORCE region includes counties in both Minnesota (Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake and St. Louis) and Wisconsin (Ashland, Bayfield and Douglas).
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Wisconsin Fast Forward Grant Funding Opportunities
The second round of Wisconsin Fast Forward grants was released earlier this month. This second round of grants focuses on:
* Health Care and Related Occupations
* Information Technology Occupations
* Manufacturing Occupations
* Transportation, Logistics, and Distribution Occupations
* Financial Services Occupations
* Construction Trades and Related Occupations
* Wisconsin Small Businesses
Applications and other program information can be found at: WisconsinFastForward.com. The Wisconsin Fast Forward program encourages employers to develop customized, skilled and semi-skilled labor solutions. Grant applicants can be a single business, a consortium of businesses, or a business/businesses in partnership with local workforce development boards and/or economic development organizations. Applicants may want to consider engaging local workforce and economic development organizations to develop a consortium. The collaborative effort helps to ensure that applications result in successful, sustained training programs.
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The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development has launched Skill Explorer. This new job search tool goes beyond job titles to find opportunities that match the skills and training job seekers already have but matches their skills to career fields that previously may not have been considered. Skill Explorer provides job seekers with more options and also helps job seekers search for matches by location and through comparing skills. Visit skillexplorer.wisconsin.gov for more information.
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On-the-Job Training Report
NWWIB and CEP, Inc. are focusing their efforts on ensuring that On-the-Job Training (OJT) contracts are being used by employers in our region as a training tool. The information below is for Workforce Investment Act (WIA) OJT contracts written since July 1, 2013 thru February 28, 2014. The Health Career and Regional Employment (HealthCARE) Project OJT contract information listed below is for the second year of the grant and accounts for all contracts written April 1, 2013 thru February 28, 2014 and includes the entire grant region, including the Fox Valley and North Central Workforce Boards.
OJT Contracts Written
WIA - 33
HealthCARE Project - 173
Average Hourly Wage
WIA - $12.88
HealthCARE Project -$21.28
Average Reimbursement Rate/Average Cost
WIA - $6.44/$1,924.42
HealthCARE Project - $12.45/$5,042.08
Training Hours
WIA - 302
HealthCARE Project - 430
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GET THE LATEST:
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2014 January Unemployment Rates
NW WI: 8.7%
WI: 6.7%
US: 7.0%
WDA 7 Counties:
Ashland: 9.0%
Bayfield: 12.7%
Burnett: 9.1%
Douglas: 6.4%
Iron: 13.5%
Price: 6.6%
Rusk: 9.3%
Sawyer: 11.4%
Taylor: 8.0%
Washburn: 8.7%
**Numbers are not seasonally adjusted.**
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Workforce Development Area #7 Regional Economic Data Summary!
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Upcoming Regional Workforce Events!
Social Media Marketing Strategies for Your Business
April 10th & May 23rd @ CEP, Inc. Ashland Admin Office from 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
*Visit wwdaanytime.com or contact Melissa Burris @ mburris@nwcep.org or 715-682-9141, ext. 122 to register or learn about other workshop dates and times
2014 Northwest Wisconsin Business ConferenceMay 7-8th, 2014 @ Heartwood Conference Center & Retreat *Contact Melissa Burris for details @ mburris@nwcep.org or 715-682-9141, ext. 122
Northwest Wisconsin Healthcare Alliance Meetings
March 27th via ITV video conferencing from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM *For video conferencing locations, contact Kat Hiti @ 715-682-9141, ext. 118 or khiti@nwcep.orgMay 15th @ Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College - Hayward from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM *Contact Kat Hiti for meeting details @ 715-682-9141, ext. 118 or
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Conference Scholarships are Available!
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Collabor8 2014: The Statewide Business Services Summit
Collabor8 2014 is the first statewide gathering that will focus on learning about business needs, maximizing workforce development and partner efforts by building sector teams, using business tools to serve businesses, and collaborating rather than competing to be the number one go to resource for Wisconsin businesses. Click here for more information.
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 Nominate a Business for the Annual Business Award or Rising Star Award
Every year, Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board, Inc. (NWWIB) takes the time
to recognize outstanding business achievements. Nominated businesses should have demonstrated a high level of commitment to their product, workforce, and communities.
*nominations are due April 11th
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Want to Learn More?
Are you interested in l earning more about the economic and workforce status of your county? You can view the Department of Workforce Development's County Workforce Profiles here.
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