The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has awarded nearly $2.3 million in Wisconsin Fast Forward worker training grants to 18 Wisconsin employers across the state — including one in Dane County — to train more than 1,000 workers to meet workforce needs.
The grants provide $2,277,392 in funds to reimburse the cost of occupational training for unemployed, underemployed and current workers and will support career growth by qualifying trainees for full-time work, a higher level of employment or increased wages.
Some projects include partnerships with community organizations, local employers and industry associations.
Employers must meet these minimum requirements to receive funding:
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85% of participants must complete training;
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65% must gain employment (the unemployed, hired and the underemployed, promoted);
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75% of incumbent trainees receive pay raises;
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75% of trainees completing courses that offer certifications receive certifications.
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Grants span the construction, customer service, health care, manufacturing and transportation sectors.
Among the recent Wisconsin Fast Forward grant awardees is Dane County’s PFS Corp./PFS TECO, which received $40,427.
Partnering with Meagher Consulting LLC and Clarity Coaching & Consulting LLC, PFS will use funds to train 31 employees in managerial accounting, metric setting, structured training methodologies and business optimization using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Trainees could receive a wage increase of $1 or more per hour.
