Greetings!
Welcome to the Summer Edition of the Workforce Today!
This issue is filled with the latest information about regional workforce development news and initiatives. In particular, the Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board, Inc. is proud to host two presentations to reveal the results of an analysis of the Northwest Wisconsin Regional Skills Gap. This project was in partnership with the UW-Superior's Department of Business and Economics, who conducted the analysis, Visions Northwest, and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Read on for other highlights, including information about NWWIB's Business of the Year award recipient!
Mari Kay-Nabozny
Chief Executive Officer
Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board, Inc.
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NORTHWEST WISCONSIN REGIONAL SKILLS GAP PRESENTATIONS SCHEDULED!
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NWWIB is hosting two presentations to reveal results from the recently conducted analysis of the Northwest Wisconsin Regional Skills Gap. A skills gap analysis survey was conducted throughout a ten county region in northwest Wisconsin, including: Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, and Washburn counties. The survey was conducted to identify the current and future needs of employers and the skills possessed by the available and upcoming workforce. Results and findings will be presented by faculty and students from the University of Wisconsin-Superior's Department of Business and Economics, who conducted the analysis. Presentations are scheduled for the end of June at two locations. There will be a breakfast forum held at UW-Superior in the Yellow Jacket Union on Wednesday, June 24th, from 8:30 - 9:30 AM. The second event will be a lunch forum held at Northcentral Technical College's Phillips campus on Thursday, June 25th, from 12:30 - 1:30 PM. Attendance and refreshments are free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required. Registration can be completed online at: www.nwskillsgap.eventbrite.com. In addition to the NWWIB and UW-Superior's Department of Business and Economics, this analysis was developed in collaboration with other regional and statewide partners. Other partners include Visions Northwest, a nine county economic development region, and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, who provided the funding for the project. Please contact Melissa Burris, Public Information Coordinator of the NWWIB, at 715-682-9141, ext. 122 or mburris@nwcep.org with any questions about the presentation or for registration assistance.
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AGRIBUSINESS ACADEMY COMING SOON!
The AgriBusiness Academy is designed to assist new farmers, farm laborers, and the next generation of farm families gain the business skills necessary to run a successful farm. The Academy will include sessions on creating a farm business plan, applying marketing principles to agricultural enterprises, and analyzing past financial and production performance. The Academy will focus on business and marketing strategies for supplying food to local markets to meet the increasing demand for local food. This project is funded by a Wisconsin Fast Forward grant. For more information about the AgriBusiness Academy, please contact Andrea Huggenvik, from the Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board, at ahuggenvik@nwcep.org or 715-682-9141, ext. 118.
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BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: COMPUMOLD TOOL & DESIGN, INC.
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| | Featured above (left) is Brian Meives from Compumold and (right) is LeRoy Forslund, NWWIB's Chair, at NWWIB's Business Conference |
Recently, NWWIB presented Compumold Tool and Design, Inc. with the Business of the Year award. Compumold Tool & Design Inc., based in Phillips, WI, is a comprehensive mold manufacturing company that is committed to meeting or exceeding customer's expectations. These expectations include delivering a quality mold with the shortest lead-times at a competitive price. The quality molds are produced by a highly skilled workforce, which has given the company the ability to take on a variety of projects. Compumold specializes in small to medium sized molds for the automotive, medical, consumer, industrial, and electronic markets. In 2010, the company was purchased by three local men. The three business partners build off of each other's strengths and skills to deliver high quality products, provide outstanding customer service, and create a positive and productive work environment for their employees.
In addition to being dedicated to their customers and employees, Compumold also takes the time to educate the public about the manufacturing industry by participating in various community events. Last year, Compumold played a large role in Mythbusting Manufacturing, an event designed to expose youth to careers and educational pathways in manufacturing. To date, Mythbusting Manufacturing has exposed over 200 students from 22 area schools to careers in manufacturing. This event is in partnership with CEP, Inc., Gold Collar Careers, NWWIB, Skills Wisconsin, and others. As part of Mythbusting Manufacturing, Compumold provided tours to local high school students to give them a better understanding of the careers available in the region. Not only did Compumold promote the manufacturing industry during their tours, they also went above and beyond by discussing the importance of soft skills in the workplace.
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NORTHWEST WISCONSIN UNEMPLOYMENT REPORT: APRIL 2015
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| | WDA 7 April 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 April. All data in the report is not seasonally adjusted. For the full report, click here!
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| | Statewide April Unemployment Rate by WDA |
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2015 APRIL
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES*
NW WI: 6.0%
WI: 4.4%
US: 5.1%
WDA 7 Counties: Ashland: 6.5% Bayfield: 9.1% Burnett: 7.1% Douglas: 4.7% Iron: 10.0% Price: 4.5% Rusk: 5.3% Sawyer: 8.6% Taylor: 4.4% Washburn: 5.3%
*Numbers are not seasonally adjusted
View the detailed report here! |
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Northwest Wisconsin Regional Skills Gap Presentation
Wednesday, June 24th, 2015
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
UW-Superior, Yellow Jacket Union
Thursday, June 25th, 2015
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Northcentral Technical College - Phillips Campus
*Register online @
Combustible Dust Safety & Health Trainings
Free training opportunities are available for employees, owners, supervisors, group leaders, managers, safety committees, and others in the wood product and other manufacturing industries throughout rural Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
715-392-6081
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CHANGING TIDES: WORKFORCE NEEDS IN OUR CURRENT ECONOMY
This year, NWWIB's 13th annual business conference took place at the AmericInn in Ashland, WI. Some of our popular workshops included "Marketing on a Limited Budget", "Labor and Employment Law Updates and Legislation", and " Surfing the Tide: Employee Recruitment & Retention in a New Economy" presented by Ted Schick, a conference favorite! If you missed a handout or could not attend, visit NWWIB's website to access all of the conference presentations.
We would like to again thank our conference sponsors, support agencies, speakers, attendees, and staff that help make this annual event a success. Without you this event would not be possible!
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NEW YOUTH SERVICES SPECIALIST & CREX CAMP DIRECTOR!
This summer at Crex Meadows Youth Conservation Camp marks the beginning CEP, Inc.'s new Youth Services Specialist and Crex Camp Director.
Terri Wegener has been hired to fill this role and brings with her knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm! Previously, Terri was a Camp Counselor at Crex and is looking forward to taking on this position.
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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, 2014 thru May 31, 2015. The Health Career and Regional Employment (HealthCARE) Project OJT contract information listed below is for the project's final year of the grant (including contracts written between April 1, 2015 thru May 31, 2015) for the entire grant region, including the Fox Valley and North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Boards.
OJT Contracts Written
WIA - 59
HealthCARE Project - 24 Average Hourly Wage WIA - $12.40 HealthCARE Project -$22.43 Average Reimbursement (Rate/Average Cost) WIA - $6.20/$1,944.20 HealthCARE Project - $13.42/$4,803.03 Training Hours WIA - 316 HealthCARE Project - 370
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