DWD Secretary Newson Announces Intent to Award Nearly $4 Million in Wisconsin Fast Forward Grants to Train Almost 3,600 Workers
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Secretary (DWD) Reggie Newson announces the DWD's intent to award nearly $4 million in worker training grants to help 57 employers develop in-demand skills for almost 3,600 workers through Round 3 of Governor Walker's Wisconsin Fast Forward (WFF) initiative.
"The Wisconsin Fast Forward program is moving Wisconsin's economy forward," Secretary Newson said. "With each round of grant awards, word is spreading about the program's effectiveness and its positive impact on hundreds of employers and thousands of employees while helping to fuel economic growth and position the state as the nation's talent development leader."
In July, Secretary Newson announced the availability of an additional $8 million in grants to support customized training opportunities in 9 industries. Of this, the DWD is awarding nearly $4 million in the following industries:
- $3,217,191 for 24 grant awards in manufacturing to train up to 3,109 workers for 26 employers.
- $619,891 for five grant awards in transportation to train up to 357 workers for 19 employers.
- $148,516 for three grant awards in construction to train up to 127 workers at 12 employers.
DWD previously announced plans to distribute over $6 million in WFF grants for over 170 businesses throughout the state. Today's announcement makes approximately $10 million available to equip more than 10,200 current and new workers with the high-demand skills that are required by almost 230 employers.
Early last year, Governor Walker proposed the $15 million WFF grant initiative, which lawmakers quickly approved with overwhelming bipartisan support. WFF encourages partnerships between employers, training partners and workforce and economic development organizations, and awards grants to support customized training solutions for skilled workers.
The WFF program is administered by the DWD Office of Skills Development (OSD), which has developed an effective process that enables businesses to easily apply for grants. Applications are evaluated by representatives from OSD, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Wisconsin Technical College System, and local chambers of commerce.
DWD expects to make additional WFF – Round 3 grant announcements in the coming weeks for innovative training projects in the financial services, information technology, customer service, small business, health care and agriculture industries.
Wisconsin Fast Forward Grant Awards
Manufacturing
Business Partner
County
Intent to Award
Baptista's Bakery
Milwaukee County
$400,000
Cambridge Major Laboratories
Washington County
$400,000
Allen Edmonds
Ozaukee County
$298,000
Marinette Marine Corporation, ACE Marine, LLC, and Bay Shipbuilding Company
Brown, Door and Marinette Counties
$293,915
InterFlex Group
Lincoln County
$287,500
Masterson Company
Milwaukee County
$189,048
ExacTech, Inc.
Door County
$164,405
Gordon Aluminum Industries
Marathon County
$130,885
Paragon Packaging, LLC
Manitowoc County
$116,592
Tulip Molded Plastics Corporation
Milwaukee County
$115,166
Universal Acoustic & Emission Technologies, Inc.
Dane, Grant and Rock Counties
$101,151
ThermTech of Waukesha
Waukesha County
$95,824
Ball Corporation
Dane County
$90,000
Super Steel
Milwaukee County
$85,700
Arow Global
Marathon County
$83,680
Rice Lake Weighing Systems
Barron County
$78,795
Linetec
Marathon County
$76,016
Dillman Equipment
Crawford County
$68,807
SMC, Ltd.
St. Croix County
$43,573
KLH Industries, Inc.
Washington County
$27,721
Semling-Menke Company, Inc.
Lincoln County
$21,918
SMC, Ltd.
St. Croix County
$14,765
Nicolet Plastics, Inc.
Oconto County
$14,752
Minnesota Rubber & Plastics
St. Croix County
$11,456
Northern Metal Fab, Inc.
St. Croix County
$7,522
TOTAL
$3,217,191
Transportation
Business Partner
County
Intent to Award
RGL Specialty Services, LLC
Brown County
$193,000
Merchants Delivery Moving & Storage Company
Racine County
$170,686
Schneider Finance, Inc.
Brown County
$113,750
Auto Select, Inc., Brickner's of Wausau, Crystal Finishing Systems, Griesbach Auto Service, JX Truck Center, Kocourek Ford, Kocourek Chervolet, Kocourek Nissan Kia, Kocourek Subaru, Kocourek Wausau Imports, Mid-State Truck Service, Olson Tire & Auto Service, Inc., Roehl Transport, Inc. and Wisconsin Kenworth
Marathon County
$88,455
Neesvig's, Inc. and Meyer Food Service, LLC
Dane and Milwaukee Counties
$54,000
TOTAL
$619,891
Construction
Business Partner
County
Intent to Award
J.H. Findorff and Son, Inc
Dane County
$105,082
Mashuda Contractors, Inc., Edward Kraemer and Sons, Inc., Trierweiler Construction & Supply Company, New Berlin Grading, Inc., Capitol Underground and RelyCo, Inc.
Brown, Dane, Marathon, Waukesha and Waushara Counties
$37,050
Hoffman Construction Company, Fahrner Asphalt Sealers, Musson Brothers, Mashuda Contractors, Inc. and Dolson, Inc.
Dane, Green Lake, Jackson, Oneida and Portage Counties
$6,384
TOTAL
$148,516
GRAND TOTAL
$ 3,985,598
A summary including additional details on each approved application can be found here http://www.wisconsinfastforward.com/reports.htm.
To learn more about Wisconsin Fast Forward, visit WisconsinFastForward.com.
