Department of Workforce Development

GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES WISCONSIN RECEIVES $1.13 MILLION GRANT
Money will be used to enhance work-based learning programs

MADISON -- Tommy G. Thompson today announced Wisconsin is the recipient of a $1.125 million grant to continue strengthening the state’s successful work-based learning programs, helping the state’s workforce prepare for the high technology jobs of the 21^st Century.

Gov. Thompson said expanding programs to help students move from the classroom to careers is a vital strategy to building the skilled workforce Wisconsin needs to succeed in the global economy.

"The best jobs of the future will go to the students who are well-educated and highly skilled, and I am committed to providing our students with the knowledge necessary for them to compete for the high paying jobs of the 3^rd millennium," Gov. Thompson said.  "The new funds will enable Wisconsin to build on our strong school-to-work foundation and expand work-based learning opportunities in youth apprenticeship, skill-certified cooperative education, and construction trade programs."

Over 132,000 students have participated in school-to-work programs since 1995, including 32,000 in job shadowing and 52,000 in career planning development.   In addition, in 1999 over 27,500 students participated in both paid and unpaid work-based learning opportunities.

To meet Wisconsin’s need for more skilled workers, Gov. Thompson has proposed using part of the grant to expand the youth apprenticeship program to 5,000 students.  Today, 1,570 youth apprentices are employed in 21 important industry areas such as auto technology, printing, finance, information technology and health.  Over 1,000 state businesses provide training to youth apprentices in 365 school districts. Skill-certified co-op students are employed in 11 industry areas such as marketing, agribusiness and food science.

 GRANT – ADD ONE

In 1994, the federal government provided Wisconsin with a five-year, $27 million grant to build its School-to-Work system.  When the original grant ended, the U.S. Dept. of Labor awarded this one-year transition grant to Wisconsin.

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