| Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development News Release | |
|---|---|
| Thursday, May 5, 2005 Governor Jim Doyle Secretary Roberta Gassman |
News Media Contact Rose Lynch 608/266-6753 e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us fax: 608/266-1784 |
Recognizes Chippewa Valley Technical College, West Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, and the West Central Job Service District
Eau Claire - Thanks to interagency cooperation and innovation, there are 19 dislocated workers currently receiving training to become Licensed Practical Nurses at Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) after plant closures forced them out of work.
"Cooperation amongst agencies is an integral part of effective and efficient government operations," Secretary Gassman said. "The Department of Workforce Development is pleased with the effort these agencies made to provide services to people in need, and fill a niche in the labor market."
Participants in the program are former workers of Rockwell Automation, Celestica and American Girl that were laid off in 2004. Surveys indicated that there was a substantial interest in LPN training from workers in the affected groups and CVTC indicated a willingness to put on a class sized project for LPN training if funding was available.
DWD worked closely with Workforce Resources Inc, the Workforce Development Board representatives for the West Central Workforce Development Board, to apply for funding from then US Department of Labor's National Emergency Grant program. Trade Adjustment Assistance petitions were also filed for the affected groups.
Two groups were approved for federal Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), and all three were approved under a National Emergency Grant (NEG). The Dislocated Worker Unit and local Job Service District worked with Workforce Resources and CVTC to come up with a plan to fund a section of LPN training using a portion of the TAA ($154,000) and NEG ($96,000) resources to pay for the $250,000 project.
Secretary Gassman visited the CVTC Health Education Center on Thursday, May 5, 2005, to present commendations to CVTC, represented by Bill Ihlenfeldt, CVTC President; the West Central Workforce Development Board, represented by Dick Best, Workforce Resources Inc. Executive Director; and the West Central Job Service District, represented by Steve Blodgett, Job Service District Director.
Healthcare workers are in strong demand in Wisconsin and that trend is expected to continue for years to come as the state's population ages and fewer young workers are able to replace them. Efforts such as these can help the labor market address the shortages that exist now and those on the horizon.
Content Contact: Rose Lynch