Contacts:
Anne Lupardus, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2156
Rose Lynch, Department of Workforce Development, 608-266-6753
Grant to Lay Workforce Development Foundation for Economic Growth in the Area
Governor Jim Doyle announced today that the Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington (WOW) Workforce Development Board will receive $150,000 to establish a Greater Milwaukee Regional Workforce Alliance. This alliance will provide an opportunity to collaborate with the Greater Milwaukee Economic Development Partnership. The grant is being awarded by the Department of Workforce Development (DWD), on behalf of the Council on Workforce Investment.
“My Grow Wisconsin agenda for 2005 focuses on regional economic development, because economic gains and losses reach far beyond lines on a map,” Governor Doyle said. “I applaud these three Workforce Development Boards for working together to expand their highly successful work program, and develop strong partnerships with regional leaders. Their commitment to helping the Greater Milwaukee regional effort is vital to growing the economy of the entire state.”
The funds will be used to increase workforce development collaboration in the region, to identify short and long term workforce objectives, to establish a Greater Milwaukee Workforce Board alliance, and to identify specific training needs in demand industries.
The Alliance will include the seven counties in southeastern Wisconsin of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington, Racine, Kenosha and Walworth. This region is served by three workforce Development boards, including the Private Industry of Milwaukee County and the Southeastern Wisconsin Workforce Development Board. In addition, Mayor Tom Barrett and other regional business, labor, economic development and education partners will help to form a leadership team to ensure a comprehensive and collaborative effort. State Representative Josh Zepnick, a member of the Council for Workforce Investment, will also provide leadership to this effort.
In June, Governor Jim Doyle announced the availability of $390,500 in competitive grants to promote regional approaches to linking economic and workforce development throughout Wisconsin. The Growing Regional Opportunities in Wisconsin (GROW) “Region by Region” grants, funded through the state Council on Workforce Investment (CWI) and administered by DWD, were established as part of the Governor’s Grow Wisconsin initiative. Grants covering the remainder of the state were announced in September.
“Through Grow Wisconsin, we’ve worked hard to foster economic growth in all areas of the state, and create high-wage, high-end jobs,” Governor Doyle said. “And local and regional collaborations are playing an increasingly key role in this effort.”
