2. News Room

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
CONTACT: DWD Communications, 608-266-2722
On the Web: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/news/
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WIWorkforce
On Twitter: @WIWorkforce

Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes and DWD Secretary-Designee Caleb Frostman Celebrate Wisconsin Fast Forward Grant Recipient ThedaCare, Inc.

APPLETON – Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes and Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary-Designee Caleb Frostman met with representatives from ThedaCare, Inc. and Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) to congratulate ThedaCare, Inc. on receiving a Wisconsin Fast Forward Grant of more than $50,000.

The grant will upskill incumbent existing employees to further their careers in the healthcare industry, encouraging the trainees to stay in the medical field while the industry faces a shortage.

The organization will partner with Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) to provide customized medical assistant training to eight incumbent existing workers. They will receive 760 hours of training over 18 months and will receive their Medical Assistant Technical Diploma upon completion. The program will include both classroom training and a hands-on practicum.

"The investment of grant awards simultaneously results in Wisconsin residents being better equipped for our current and future job market and provides our state's employers with a more skilled workforce," Secretary-Designee Frostman said. "Strategically investing in transferable skills will help lift industries, communities and Wisconsin's economy."

The event began with an overview of the medical assistant training program at FVTC, which included the classroom setting as well as medical equipment for hands-on training. The event concluded with a press conference where Secretary-Designee Frostman, leadership from ThedaCare and FVTC, and Lieutenant Governor Barnes spoke about the grant and how it will provide trainees with the skills they need to grow and succeed in the medical field.

"Every student deserves an equal opportunity to achieve the goals they’ve studied and worked so hard for in their pursuit of higher education. This grant helps programs like ThedaCare collaborate with Wisconsin’s technical colleges do just that, while filling the need for medical assistants within our state," Lt. Gov. Barnes said. "Gov. Tony Evers and I support their work with Fox Valley Technical College and further collaborations with our schools so that our students have the best chance for success in their respective careers."

Wisconsin's Fast Forward (WFF) grant program is a nationally recognized, innovative talent development solution to train and develop highly skilled workers. These training programs are designed to provide sustainable, short- and medium-term training and placement of workers in positions that offer trainees long-term professional growth and economic opportunity.

For more information, please visit http://wisconsinfastforward.com/.