2. News Room

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
CONTACT: DWD Communications, 608-266-2722
On the Web: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/news/
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WIWorkforce
On Twitter: @WIWorkforce

DWD Accepting Proposals for up to $1.5 Million in Wisconsin Fast Forward Funds to Prepare Wisconsin Youth for Nursing Careers

DWD issues Request for Proposals for collaborative recruitment and retention projects; deadline is 2 p.m. Monday, April 16

Madison – Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Ray Allen today announced up to $1.5 million in available Wisconsin Fast Forward (WFF) funds to help community-based organizations in a public-private partnership prepare Wisconsin middle and high school students for high-demand careers in the nursing profession.

"Wisconsin's healthcare system will continue to seek talented and qualified individuals to fill thousands of employment vacancies over the coming years, and it will take innovative and collaborative approaches to fill these good-paying opportunities," Secretary Allen said. "By reaching out to students early, we hope to add another talent development tool to support our state's leading healthcare industry and support their workforce for years to come."

DWD's Procurement Unit will accept proposals from community-based organizations that work with local healthcare providers and other partners statewide to recruit and train high school and middle school students who are interested in pursuing nursing career pathways.

Funds support assisting community-based organizations create and implement a nursing training program for high school and middle school students through a public-private partnership. High school students will be allowed to accumulate technical college credits in pursuit of certifications such as Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).

Request for Proposal (RFP) details include:

• Applicants: Wisconsin Community-Based Organizations
• Proposals Due: 2:00pm on April 16, 2018
• Estimated Number of Contracts to be Issued: All grants are subject to the aggregate limit of $1.5 million, but there is no limit on the number of individual awards allowed.
• Range of Contract Awards: No minimum grant amounts per award – total awarded amounts for all grants not to exceed $1.5 million

Reporting Requirements:

• Provide quarterly reports after the start of the contract. Highlight how many students are involved, progress in building public and private partnerships and detail measurable goals and benchmarks identified in your service plan (Section 5.4 a-d).
• Report on the number of high school students that receive college credit for nursing related classes.
• Report on the number of participants who pass any related certification test to allow for employment (ex. CNA).
• Identification and count of students hired for employment, including types of positions offered, positions accepted and starting rate of pay.
• Provide information on students involved in continuing education in health-related professions.

Under Governor Walker's leadership, Wisconsin has invested over $200 million over the past four years and over $140 million in the current biennial budget to support workforce development, including additional support to expand the WFF program.

The NURSING TRAINING IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS BY COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION IN A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP RFP is available online.

Qualifying community-based organizations must register to submit proposals via eSupplier.

More information about the WFF program is available online.

For questions regarding the process for submitting proposals, please contact DWD Senior Purchasing Agent Barbara Hoffhein.