Governor Evers Announces Funds for 12 Regional Projects

Wednesday, December 15th, 2021 -- 11:01 AM

Gov. Tony Evers, together with Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes and Department of Workforce Development Secretary-designee Amy Pechacek, announced 12 regional projects aimed at developing long-term solutions to Wisconsin's workforce challenges.

Gov. Evers directed $100 million to invest in the Workforce Innovation Grant program announced earlier this year. The projects announced will receive up to $59.5 million in grants through the first round of the Workforce Innovation Grant Program.

Among the projects funded in the first round of grants are:

Public-private partnerships to train and attract healthcare workers throughout rural Wisconsin;

Develop next-generation advanced manufacturing employees in west-central and southeast Wisconsin;

Expand affordable, high-quality childcare in Door County, Green County, and south-central Wisconsin;

Create pipelines of young, educated workers in Milwaukee;

Train construction and skilled craft workers throughout the state;

Foster a culture of entrepreneurship in Kenosha;

And enable incarcerated individuals to earn undergraduate degrees from the University of Wisconsin.

The grant program is funded by $100 million directed by Gov. Evers using resources available through the federal American Rescue Plan Act. A second round of grants will be awarded in 2022.

Gov. Evers, Secretary and CEO Hughes, and Secretary-designee Pechacek announced the grants this in Eau Claire where they highlighted two regional projects.

The first, led by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic, will increase the availability of healthcare and social workers in rural communities.

The second, led by Chippewa Valley Technical College, will provide training and job placement support to metal fabricators and advanced manufacturing workers, the top priority identified by business leaders in the 21-county region.

Some of the regional projects that will receive up to $59.5 million in grants through the Workforce Innovation Grant Program include up to $10 million for Chippewa Valley Technical College, which Serves Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Pierce, St. Croix, Taylor, and Trempealeau counties.

Up to $9.4 million will be given to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, which serves 16 counties across the state. Up to $9 million will be given to Mid-State Technical College, which serves Wood, Portage, Adams, Waushara, Juneau, Jackson, Clark, and Marathon counties.

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