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Funding for the RA program comes from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) competitive grants. WIOA funding is annual, while federal grants have periods of performance.
The RA program is available to anyone age 16 or older.
The key components of the RA program are apprenticeship, credential attainment, and occupational training.
David Polk
Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards Director
DWD Division of Employment and Training
David.Polk@dwd.wisconsin.gov
Ben Stahlecker
Registered Apprenticeship Section Chief
Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards
DWD Division of Employment and Training
Benjamen.Stahlecker@dwd.wisconsin.gov
General Registered Apprenticeship Inquiries
Apprenticeship@dwd.wisconsin.gov
608-733-3930
Wisconsin's Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program is coordinated locally by YA consortia to provide education for employment services. The purpose of the YA program is to provide grants to local school districts, partnerships, and/or consortiums for the implementation and coordination of local youth apprenticeship programs. Local youth apprenticeship programs provide hands on skills while youth complete courses that pertain to a career field.
Funding for the YA program comes from General Purpose Revenue (GPR) on an annual basis.
The YA program is available to anyone in high school aged 16 to 18.
Consortia must provide 50% matching funds up to $550 per student served by the YA program.
David Polk
Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards Director
DWD Division of Employment and Training
David.Polk@dwd.wisconsin.gov
John Keckhaver
Youth Apprenticeship Section Chief
Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards
DWD Division of Employment and Training
John.Keckhaver@dwd.wisconsin.gov
General Youth Apprenticeship Inquiries
YA@dwd.wisconsin.gov
608-733-3930
The Apprenticeship Completion Award Program (ACAP) partially reimburses eligible apprentices or sponsors for the costs associated with the Wisconsin Registered Apprenticeship program.
Funding for the ACAP comes from General Purpose Revenue (GPR) on an annual basis.
The program is available to apprentices and sponsors in the Registered Apprenticeship program.
When an apprentice is eligible, the party or parties that incurred the costs (the apprentice and/or the sponsor) may request reimbursement.
To be eligible, the apprentice must meet one of the two following eligibility events:
Note: Public sector apprenticeships and sponsors, such as protective services, utilities, and more are excluded from ACAP by law. Additionally, the apprentice must not be delinquent on child support payments.
https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/apprenticeship/acap.htm
David Polk
Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards Director
DWD Division of Employment and Training
David.Polk@dwd.wisconsin.gov
Apprenticeship Navigators help people find appropriate apprenticeships, develop a portfolio, answer questions on qualifications, and help businesses build a talent pool. They serve as mentors, providing details of each apprenticeship program and guiding their mentees to an apprenticeship path that fits their interests.
The Apprenticeship Navigators are funded by a one-time, competitive, federal grant awarded to DWD.
Navigators focus on underrepresented populations who have had historically low apprenticeship participation numbers.
The individuals served by the Navigators must be eligible for a Wisconsin apprenticeship program as the Navigators will personally guide them through acceptance in a program through the Wisconsin Apprenticeship System and refer them to opportunities that meet their specific needs and professional goals.
Apprenticeship Navigators: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/apprenticeship/contacts.htm#apprenticeshipStaff
David Polk
Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards Director
DWD Division of Employment and Training
David.Polk@dwd.wisconsin.gov
The Vocational Rehabilitation to Native Americans with Disabilities program is facilitated by a Memorandum of Association with the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council (GLITC). The program provides vocational rehabilitation services on behalf of partner Tribes to eligible individuals with disabilities. The services provided are sensitive to the individual's cultural beliefs, strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, and abilities so they may engage in gainful employment.
Support and services may include one or more of the following:
The program is funded by an annual grant from the U.S. Department of Education and Tribal Gaming Revenue.
The program serves Native American individuals with disabilities who face barriers to employment.
Key components of the program include internships, apprenticeships, job training and placement, summer programs, childcare and transportation subsidies, career planning, and credential attainment.
DWD Division of Vocational Rehabilitation: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dvr/
GLITC Vocational Rehabilitation for Native Americans: GLITC: VR Overview
Delora Newton
DWD Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Administrator
Delora.Newton@dwd.wisconsin.gov
GLITC Vocational Rehabilitation for Native Americans Staff
GLITC Contact and Location Information
The Unemployment Insurance (UI) Navigator Grant is a partnership between DWD and the United Migrant Opportunity Services (UMOS). The aim of the partnership is to support improved access for those shown to face barriers to UI benefit receipt, including migrant and seasonal farm workers, individuals with limited English proficiency, and individuals living in rural areas as well as urban areas such as Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, the Fox Valley area, and Green Bay who have been historically underserved. This includes people adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality including workers who are paid low wages, Black, Hispanic/Latinx, American Indians, and other persons of color. UMOS will support this by stationing staff in rural Northwest Wisconsin.
The program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and a one-time competitive grant awarded to DWD ending 6/30/2025.
The program serves employers, local economies, and people who have lost jobs through no fault of their own as they seek new employment.
The program must provide historically underserved, eligible workers, including migrant and seasonal farmworkers, tribal members, and other communities as color, as well as limited English speakers, with information and assistance in accessing, applying, and navigating the UI benefit process.
DWD Press Release: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/press/2022/220616-ui-grant.htm
Michele Carter
DWD Division of Employment and Training Administrator
Michele.Carter1@dwd.wisconsin.gov
The Teacher Training and Recruitment program is a state-funded annual grant program open to non-profit organizations that can demonstrate a critical need to recruit, train, and prepare individuals to teach in low-income or urban Wisconsin schools.
Funding for the Teacher Training and Recruitment program comes from General Purpose Revenue (GPR) on an annual basis.
The grant is available to non-profit organizations.
Funds may not be "passed through" or transferred from the grant award recipient to another entity or individual. Rather, awarded funds are used to reimburse grant award recipients for approved, eligible expenses.
Wisconsin Fast Forward: https://wisconsinfastforward.com/default.htm
John Roos
Office of Skills Development Director
DWD Division of Employment and Training
John.Roos@dwd.wisconsin.gov
The Technical Education Equipment Grants program helps schools equip their technical education classes with CNC (computer numerical control), augers, lathes, mills, routers, and water jet cutters; also, robotic arms and PLC (programmable logic control) computers to operate them and other machines. The list of items for school equipment includes 3D metal printers and an array of welding equipment.
Funding for the Technical Education and Equipment Grants comes from General Purpose Revenue (GPR) on an annual basis.
The program serves schools and students interested in careers in advanced manufacturing.
A school district grantee must provide matching funds at a rate of two to one.
Wisconsin Fast Forward Expanded Grants: https://wisconsinfastforward.com/wff_standard.htm
John Roos
Office of Skills Development Director
DWD Division of Employment and Training
John.Roos@dwd.wisconsin.gov
Wisconsin Fast Forward (WFF) is a state-funded grant program for industry sector training and internship development. WFF grants to businesses and to businesses/workforce stakeholder consortiums from all Wisconsin industry sectors reimburse the costs of customized occupational training for unemployed, underemployed, and incumbent workers. Grants may also be used to increase the number of students placed with employers for internships.
Funding for WFF comes from General Purpose Revenue (GPR) on an annual basis.
The program is available to anyone age 16 or older.
Information about the requirements of the WFF program is available on the WFF website: https://wisconsinfastforward.com/default.htm.
Wisconsin Fast Forward: https://wisconsinfastforward.com/default.htm
John Roos
Office of Skills Development Director
DWD Division of Employment and Training
John.Roos@dwd.wisconsin.gov
The Worker Connection program provides free navigation services to expand career opportunities at the local level. Trained Career Navigators work one-on-one with clients to identify their interests, values, and conditions of work. Then, the Career Navigators connect clients to resources, trainings, and in-demand career pathways in their area. The program also partners with community-based organizations and businesses to provide support and help employers with their workforce needs. Currently, the Worker Connection program is active in Milwaukee County (Workforce Development Area 2) and the Bay area (Workforce Development Area 5).
The Worker Connection program funding is facilitated by a Memorandum of Understanding with the Wisconsin Department of Administration and is provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
The program serves individuals with barriers to employment in Milwaukee County and the Bay area.
Key components of the program are work-related supports and career navigation services, including sector-based training.
Worker Connection program site: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/workforce-solutions/wcp/
General Worker Connection Questions and Enrollment
wcp@dwd.wisconsin.gov
Milwaukee County: (414) 250-6632
Bay Area: (920) 930-6570
Michele Carter
DWD Division of Employment and Training Administrator
Michele.Carter1@dwd.wisconsin.gov
The Early College Credit Program (ECCP) allows Wisconsin public and private high school students to take one or more courses at an institution of higher education for high school and/or college credit and provides reimbursement.
DWD provides the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) annual General Purpose Revenue (GPR) to reimburse school districts that demonstrate eligible costs.
The program serves high school students and higher education institutions.
Eligible "institutions of higher education" are an institution within the University of Wisconsin System, a tribally controlled college, or a private, nonprofit institution of higher education located in the state. An institution of higher education is reimbursed for the cost of the courses taken by a high school student under the ECCP program by school district funds, ECCP funds, and sometimes by the student.
John Roos
Office of Skills Development Director
DWD Division of Employment and Training
John.Roos@dwd.wisconsin.gov
The Worker Advancement Initiative serves people whose previous employment has not continued in the post-pandemic economy, as well as those who were not attached to or were not successful in the labor market prior to the pandemic, by offering subsidized employment and skills training opportunities to local employers. The program builds on the success of current transitional job program in the state by launching a new, statewide effort to provide subsidized work opportunities to approximately 2,000 individuals via grants to local Workforce Development Boards.
One-time grants funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) were awarded to each of Wisconsin's 11 Workforce Development Boards, effective October 1, 2021, to operate a variety of projects.
The initiative serves individuals with barriers to employment.
Key components of the program are subsidized employment and skills training opportunities with local employers.
Worker Advancement Initiative site: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/workforce-solutions/wai/
General Worker Advancement Initiative Questions: DETBWTWAIGrants@dwd.wisconsin.gov
Steve Laesch
DWD Division of Employment and Training Assistant Administrator
Steve.Laesch@dwd.wisconsin.gov
The Workforce Innovation Grant program is a collaboration between the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and DWD. The program provides up to $10 million grants to regional organizations to design and implement innovative plans that help solve the workforce challenges the COVID pandemic has caused in their regions. This program encourages the development of leading-edge, long-term solutions that enable businesses to more easily find workers and empower those workers to more successfully prepare for and connect to the family-supporting careers in their regions.
Workforce Innovation Grants are one-time, competitive grant awards funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The grants are available to governmental entities, non-profits, and tribal governments.
Funded programs must identify a region's most pressing pandemic-related challenges and offer solutions through a myriad of ways, including but not limited to:
Solutions must be reasonably related and proportional to the pandemic-related impact.
Workforce Innovation Grant site: https://wedc.org/programs-and-resources/workforce-innovation-grant/
Michele Carter
DWD Division of Employment and Training Administrator
Michele.Carter1@dwd.wisconsin.gov
The Mobile Career Lab delivers Job Center services anywhere in Wisconsin. This new tool is equipped with computers and display screens that can be used as a classroom for training and employment workshops or as a resources room for resume and job application assistance.
The Mobile Career Lab is funded by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and state workforce funds.
The Mobile Career Lab serves businesses and job seekers.
To reserve the Mobile Career Lab for a recruitment or training event, job fair, as an employment resource, or for other workforce-related occasions, please fill out this reservation form.
Mobile Career Lab site: http://wisconsinjobcenter.org/mobile/
Michele Carter
DWD Division of Employment and Training Administrator
Michele.Carter1@dwd.wisconsin.gov
The DVR (DWD Division of Vocational Rehabilitation) Career Pathways Advancement Initiative aims to create resources and opportunities to support vocational rehabilitation consumers to advance in a career in one of four fields: Healthcare, Digital/Information Technology, Construction, and Manufacturing.
The Initiative is funded by a one-time, competitive grant awarded to DWD for five years, ending in 2026.
The initiative serves former and current DVR consumers and individuals with disabilities with a barrier to employment who have an interest in one of the four career fields.
Individuals must be eligible for DVR services to participate in the initiative. DVR will be contacting former DVR consumers with a closed case indicating an interest in one of the four career fields. Current DVR consumers will be apprised of this service. Individuals with disabilities seeking employment who have an interest in one of these career fields can apply for vocational rehabilitation services.
Delora Newton
DWD Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Administrator
Delora.Newton@dwd.wisconsin.gov
The Rapid Response program aims to prevent or minimize the impact of layoffs and dislocations on workers, businesses, and communities by responding to permanent closures, mass layoffs, or natural disasters which result in mass job loss.
The rapid response program is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and funding is distributed by formula grants to Wisconsin's 11 Workforce Development Areas.
Workers aged 16 or older with current employment subject to a closure, mass layoff, or natural disaster.
DWD's Division of Employment and Training facilitates the Rapid Response program via a Rapid Response Team that coordinates activities in each of Wisconsin's 11 Workforce Development Areas when there has been an announcement of a permanent closure, mass layoff, or mass job dislocation due to a natural disaster.
Steve Laesch
DWD Division of Employment and Training Assistant Administrator
Steve.Laesch@dwd.wisconsin.gov
DWD Contact Information
201 E. Washington Ave
P.O. Box 7946
Madison, WI 53707
(608) 266-3131
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