FALL 2014

Welcome to the Fall Edition of the Workforce Today!

In this issue, learn more about activities taking place in the next few weeks to celebrate Workforce Development Month. Some activities include open houses and the grand opening of the Career Closet! This edition also includes information about industry partnership initiatives as well as local, regional, and national workforce development news.

 

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. 
IN THE NEWS
WORKFORCE INNOVATION & OPPORTUNITY ACT
On July 22, 2014, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was signed into law, reauthorizing WIA for six years, from 2015 through 2020. WIOA opens the door to states' greater use of sector partnerships and career pathway models and includes higher levels of accountability and outcome data reporting. Click here for more information on WIOA.
SEPTEMBER IS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MONTH!

 

September is Workforce Development Month in Wisconsin and NWWIB and CEP, Inc. are hosting open houses across the region to showcase Wisconsin's employment and training system and how staff can assist employers, employees, and jobseekers with their workforce needs.

 

Open houses will be held on Tuesday, September 30th, at CEP, Inc. Offices in Ashland, Park Falls, Spooner, and Superior. CEP, Inc. and NWWIB staff will be available to discuss jobseeker and employer services. Refreshments will be provided at these events from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

 

In addition to the open house at the Ashland CEP, Inc. Office, the Career Closet will be having its grand opening on September 30th from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Recently, CEP, Inc. received funding from the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation to launch the Career Closet! The Career Closet will assist disadvantaged, prospective jobseekers to obtain clean, appropriate clothing for jobseeking, interviews, and new employment. The closet will be located near the Ashland CEP, Inc. Office within the Ashland Area Enterprise Center.

 

For more information and a full list of Workforce Development Month events, please visit NWWIB's website or contact Melissa Burris, Public Information Coordinator, at 715-682-9141, ext. 122 or mburris@nwcep.org. 

INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP EVENT: HIGH-WAGE HIGHWAY EXHIBIT
It's a High-Wage Highway out there! Truck drivers are in demand and companies are paying top wages and great benefits to today's drivers. CEP, Inc. is thrilled to bring a fun, interactive look at these high-wage jobs to the Red Clay Classic at the ABC Raceway in Ashland on Friday and Saturday, September 26th-27th. Industry partners, Halvor Lines and Sue Vinje Trucking, will bring their brand new trucks that you and your family can climb on in and see the modern and comfortable office that these trucks have become. For more information about this exhibit, please contact Tasha Hagberg, Employer Resource Consultant, at 715-635-2175 or thagberg@nwcep.org.
MANUFACTURERS REVEALED EVENT
Manufacturing is critical to the future success of the State of Wisconsin. The Manufacturers Revealed events were created to allow the public to have the opportunity to see the products being made in our own backyards and learn how these jobs impact the community. For more information, please visit WITC's website. 
NORTHWEST WISCONSIN UNEMPLOYMENT REPORT
WDA 7 July Unemployment Rate
This report, created by Thomas Michels, Labor Market Economist, Office of Economic Advisors - Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, provides insight into the unemployment rate for the 10 County region served by NWWIB. The data pictured above and below is for the month of July. All data in the report is non-seasonally adjusted.

US July Unemployment Rate
COWS: STATE OF WISCONSIN WORKING PART I
Center on Wisconsin Strategy (COWS) has recently released the State of Working Wisconsin 2014 (Part 1). The State of Working Wisconsin 2014 uses the best and recent data available on jobs and wages to describe the serious economic challenges that Wisconsin continues to face. Read the full report here.
RESCUE DIVAS RECRUITMENT EVENT

Rescue Divas is a five day residential camp experience, focusing on educating and exciting middle school age girls about careers (or volunteer positions) in Emergency Medicine. Throughout the week, girls will participate in exploratory, hands-on activities that focus on a variety of skills and knowledge needed in Emergency Medical careers. They will earn certification in First Aid, CPR and AED use. Pictures are from a recruitment exhibit at the Bayfield County Fair.

Rescue Divas was created because of a one year planning grant CEP, Inc. received from the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health. The inaugural session is scheduled for this summer. For more information, contact Carrie Miller, Focused Initiatives Manager, at 715-682-9141, ext. 200 or cmiller@nwcep.org.

 

 
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IN THIS ISSUE
QUICK LINKS
NW WI Unemployment Report
FAST FACTS
2014 JULY UNEMPLOYMENT RATES

NW WI: 6.7%*
WI: 5.8%
US: 6.2%

WDA 7 Counties:*
Ashland: 8.6%
Bayfield: 7.3%
Burnett: 6.7%
Douglas: 6.2%
Iron: 10.1%
Price: 5.3%
Rusk: 6.9%
Sawyer: 7.4%
Taylor: 5.7%
Washburn: 6.2%

*Numbers are not seasonally adjusted
NWWIB WANTS YOU!
 
NWWIB is currently seeking a new Board Member from our ten-county region. We welcome applications from professionals in any industry! To apply, download the application here. Please contact, Mari Kay-Nabozny at mari@nwwib.com or 715-682-9141, ext. 101 with any questions.
UPCOMING REGIONAL EVENTS
Calendar
Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board Meeting
Thursday, September 25th - 10:30 - 12:00 PM
Lakewoods Resort & Lodge - Cable, WI
*For more details, contact Jennifer Decker @ jdecker@nwcep.org or 715-682-9141, ext. 113

High Wage Highway Exhibit @ The Red Clay Classic
Friday & Saturday, September 26th - 27th
ABC Raceway - Ashland, WI
*For more details, please contact Tasha Hagberg @ thagberg@nwcep.org or 715-635-2175

Workforce Development Month Open Houses
Tuesday, September 30th - 10:00 - 2:00 PM

Career Closet Grand Opening
Tuesday, September 30th - 1:00 - 3:00 PM
*The Career Closet is located near the Ashland CEP, Inc. Office within the Ashland Area Enterprise Center. Contact Becky Stanhope for more info @ bstanhope@nwcep.org or 715-682-9141

Employer Workshop: 4 Free Tools You Need to Know as a Small Business Owner

Thursday, October 9th - 10:30-11:30 AM 

Thursday, November 13th - 10:30-11:30 AM

Thursday, December 11th - 10:30-11:30 AM 

All workshops take place at the CEP, Inc. Admin Office - Ashland, WI

*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

Manufacturers Revealed
Wednesday, October 8th @ 5-8 PM
Events will take place at Ashland, Rice Lake, New Richmond, and Superior WITC Campuses
*For more information, please visit WITC's website or call 800-243-9482

Northwest Wisconsin Healthcare Alliance Meeting
Tuesday, October 21st
Location TBA
*For more information, contact Andrea Huggenvik @ ahuggenvik@nwcep.org or 715-682-9141, ext. 118

Mythbusting Manufacturing Tours
Wednesday, October 22nd
Price County
The tour will give high school students, teachers, administrators, and chaperons the chance to learn about career opportunities in manufacturing as well as tour regional manufacturers and explore Northcentral Technical College's campus and programs.
*For tour details, contact Suzannah Crandall, Youth Services Specialist & Crex Camp Director, @ scrandall@nwcep.org or 715-682-9141, ext. 119.

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, 2014 thru August 31, 2014. The Health Career and Regional Employment (HealthCARE) Project OJT contract information listed below is for the project's third year of the grant (including contracts written between April 1, 2014 thru August 31, 2014) and includes the entire grant region, including the Fox Valley and North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Boards.

OJT Contracts Written
WIA - 12
HealthCARE Project - 118

Average Hourly Wage
WIA - $11.73
HealthCARE Project -$20.69

Average Reimbursement Rate/Average Cost
WIA - $5.86/$1,876.49
HealthCARE Project - $12.04/$4,704.26

Training Hours
WIA - 321
HealthCARE Project - 415

NWWIB | P. O. Box 616 | 422 3rd Street West, Suite 200 | Ashland, WI 54806

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