Applications for the Department of Workforce Development’s (DWD) Wisconsin Fast Forward Grants are currently open to help address the state’s demand for skilled workers.
Grants aim to bolster the workforce through development in two areas — Industry Sectors Worker Training Grants and Technical Education Equipment Grants. Wisconsin Fast Forward Grants are open to public agencies, private organizations in all industry sectors, and for Tribal governing bodies. Grants reimburse costs for customized occupational training for future, unemployed, underemployed and existing workers.
“These worker training grants invest in Wisconsin’s workforce and economy by advancing targeted, industry-led projects that support collaboration,” DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek said in a statement. “Wisconsin Fast Forward provides employers a training boost that fills positions while offering workers the skills they need to succeed.”
Programs reimbursed by the grant look to bolster the workforce and lead to quality workers for full-time employment, higher level employment and or increased wages.
Grants are broken down between two areas. Standard Wisconsin Fast Forward Grants are available to all sectors with awards of $5,000-$400,000 per grantee.
Expanded Wisconsin Fast Forward Grants offer technical education equipment with $5,000-$100,000 per grantee. The expanded grants aim to train high school students in advanced manufacturing or construction fields to address the state’s skilled worker shortage.
Wisconsin faces a large workforce shortage with an estimated 54 available workers for every 100 job openings, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s worker shortage index. Wisconsin ranks as the highest in workforce shortage out of all states in the Great Lakes region.
Applications for Standard Fast Forward Grants are currently open until March 11; Expanded Fast Forward Grants are open until Feb. 18. Details on how to apply can be found on the Wisconsin Fast Forward website.