State Labor Secretary Highlights Joint Partnership with
Corrections,
Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board
MADISON – Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta
Gassman today announced a new $400,000 employment and training pilot
project in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC)
and the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board (MAWIB) to train
unemployed and under-employed individuals for demand-driven jobs in the
Milwaukee area, such as in advanced manufacturing, and health care.
“With this innovative partnership, we build on the success of our
employment and training programs, developing a comprehensive approach to
help reduce unemployment, address labor shortages and connect employers
with skilled workers,” Secretary Gassman said. “As part of Governor
Doyle’s Grow Wisconsin – The Next Steps plan, this collaborative
effort will help place unemployed and under-employed Milwaukee residents,
including those on probation and parole, into demand-driven jobs with
benefits, while meeting the hiring needs of area employers.”
At least 100 individuals under the pilot project will be served over
the course of one year, with a target of having all participants placed in
jobs paying $12 per hour, or more, with the capacity to move up to
higher-paying work. To fund the project, DWD and MAWIB will each
contribute $100,000, with DOC contributing $200,000.
DOC Secretary Rick Raemisch added: “By providing individuals, including
those under the supervision of the Department of Corrections, with the
opportunity to learn marketable skills and become gainfully employed,
we’re working together to make Milwaukee a stronger and safer community.
We know that steady employment is critical to an offender’s success at
becoming a productive, law-abiding member of the community. We view this
project as an investment in community safety.”
Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board President Donald Sykes added:
“This project provides an opportunity to learn to connect unemployed and
under-employed individuals with employment, while advancing partnerships
and coordination between governmental agencies.”
The partners will work collaboratively through a competitive bidding
process to identify eligible private and non-profit community
organizations to implement the pilot project in Milwaukee. MAWIB will then
administer and monitor the release of funds to the selected organizations,
which will provide training, case management, support, and retention
services to help participants succeed in the project.
Building on best practices and successful pieces of other employment and
training efforts, this project seeks to create a comprehensive model that
will be replicable and sustainable beyond the initial length of the pilot.
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