The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development awarded more than $1.5 million in worker training grants through the Wisconsin Fast Forward Program to assist 19 employers in training more than 700 workers for high-demand jobs in construction, child care, healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation across the state.
The training programs include partnerships with employers, local or regional economic development organizations, workforce development boards, post-secondary institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private training providers.
Administered by DWD, the Wisconsin Fast Forward Program works to help Wisconsin businesses train and retain highly skilled workers and support the state’s workforce. Since the program launched in 2013, more than $54 million in funding has been awarded to 487 projects to support the training of 31,000 workers. The Wisconsin Fast Forward grant program awards funds to Wisconsin businesses to reimburse occupational training costs. The grants cover training costs for those who are unemployed or underemployed, as well as for incumbent workers.
Employers must meet these minimum requirements to receive funding:
- 85 percent of the participants must complete training;
- 65 percent must gain employment, whether by hiring unemployed folks or improving employment for underemployed workers; and
- 75 percent of incumbent trainees must receive pay raises.
Grant recipients in Northeast Wisconsin include:
- Aurora Health Care | $325,769 – Aurora Health Care in Sheboygan County is partnering with the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Milwaukee to train 60 current workers as forensic nurse examiners. Trainees could receive a minimum hourly wage increase of $1.51 per hour.
- Gold Cross Ambulance Service Inc. | $27,271 – Gold Cross Ambulance Service Inc. in Winnebago County to train 24 unemployed people to become state-licensed Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) who are certified by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. Trainees will be employed as EMTs after the program.
- Nemak USA Inc. | $400,000 – Nemak USA Inc. in Sheboygan County is partnering with Advanced Technology Services Inc. to train 70 current workers in mechanical power systems, Computer Numeric Control (CNC), fluid power, robotics, and other skills for high-pressure die casting jobs. Trainees could receive an hourly wage boost of 78 cents per hour.
- Muza Sheet Metal Company LLC | $125,642 – Muza Sheet Metal Company LLC in Winnebago County to train 50 incumbent journeymen, apprentices, and fabricators to learn how to install product through a plank installation training program. Trainees could receive a wage increase of 91 cents or more per hour.
