Governor's Council on Workforce Investment

Council on Workforce Investment initiatives prior to 2018.

2012

SECTOR CONVENING GRANTS

In May 2012, $275,000 in grants was set aside for 11 WDBs ($25,000 each), funding efforts to engage employers to assess hiring needs and develop strategies to meet those needs. The grants addressed needs for skilled workers in manufacturing, healthcare, agribusiness, information technology and other high-growth sectors.

Sector-based funding is a core element of Governor Evers’ Wisconsin Working initiative. The grants support the needs of existing and emerging high-growth sectors. Since 2009, Sector Strategy efforts have been received WIA discretionary funding which helps convene local stakeholders and train the workforce to meet industry-specific skill demand.

2007

REGIONAL METRICS BENCHMARKS

DWD Secretary Roberta Gassman announced Regional Metrics Benchmarks, which provided Wisconsin’s seven GROW regions comprehensive, regional data for local strategic planning efforts.

SPECIAL INNOVATION GRANTS UPDATE

An update on projects funded by the 2006 Special Innovation Grant awards was made to the Council on December 11, 2007.

2006

BALDRIGE EXPRESS LEADERSHIP ASSESSMENT

The Council approved monies in 2005 for each Wisconsin WDB to conduct a self-assessment of board leadership effectiveness. The results are presented in this report.

GROWING REGIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN WISCONSIN (GROW) GRANTS

Second round GROW Grant guidelines

Second round grants (DWD news releases):

• New North ($50,000)
• North Central ($50,000)
• West Central ($80,000)
• Northwest ($50,000)
• Western ($70,000)
• Southeast ($110,000)
• South Central ($80,000)

SPECIAL INNOVATION GRANTS

The Council funded three $100,000 "CWI Special Innovation" projects in 2006, each supporting pilot projects in use of technology to deliver workforce investment services and expand advanced manufacturing training services. The projects included:

• Advanced Manufacturing Efficiency and Productivity Improvement Project
  (Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce and Racine County Workforce Development Center)
• Regional Distance Learning System
  (Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin)
• Technology-Based (Virtual, Internet-Based) Job Center
  (Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board)

MANUFACTURING SKILLS STANDARDS CERTIFICATION GRANTS

Following a 2006 presentation to the Council, $250,000 in Workforce Investment Act Statewide Activity funds were made available for local projects to advance the national Manufacturing Skills Standards Council's Manufacturing Skills Standards Certification (MSSC).

2005

WORKFORCE PROGRAMS INVENTORY

An inventory of Wisconsin's state-administered Workforce Education and Training Programs completed in May, 2005. It features detailed program descriptions by state agencies, and designates programs that are required to serve as Job Center partners under WIA.

GROWING REGIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN WISCONSIN (GROW)

Region-by-Region GROW grants funded through the Council and administered by DWD, were established to link economic and workforce development throughout Wisconsin.

The awards included South Central and Southwest partnership ($120,500); West Central ($80,000); Bay Area and Fox Valley partnership ($40,000); Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington (WOW) ($150,000); and $ 25,000 "starter" funding to Western, Northwest and North Central.