Employers not engaged with local workforce boards are missing an opportunity

 One of the biggest challenges facing Wisconsin’s economy is the need for a qualified workforce. 

Since the pandemic began, we’ve seen headlines almost daily with comments from chambers of commerce hosting forums and media events, employers who are fearful of staying in business, politicians who are blaming each other, and industry associations who are competing for the same workers. 

Missing from most of these conversations are Wisconsin’s local workforce development boards and the Talent Development Council. 

It’s more important than ever for business leaders to engage with Wisconsin’s Local Workforce Development Boards. 

The WWDA and Wisconsin’s boards are underused and under-recognized. 

If you’re part of a chamber of commerce, a regional economic development organization, an industry trade association, or even as an employer - you need to learn more about the Talent Development Council and how to connect to your local workforce board. 

Wisconsin’s 11 boards are the only statewide partnership of employers, educators, and community leaders tasked with fostering economic development and high-growth opportunities in regional economies. 

This system exists to help businesses find qualified workers to meet their present and future workforce needs.

The Talent Development Council is the fastest growing collation of employers and industry associations working to address Wisconsin’s workforce issues with a platform that provides three things: 

-       Access to programming

-       Connection to decision makers

-       The ability to influence funding priorities

With more than $130 Million on the table in Wisconsin to address workforce development – you need to connect with your local workforce board. 

The most immediate opportunity is to tap into the $100 Million Workforce Innovation Grant Program designed to help the regions of Wisconsin solve their most pressing workforce challenges by financially supporting collaborative, sustainable and innovative pandemic-recovery plans developed by regional organizations.

The Workforce Innovation Grant Program is a collaboration between the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and the Department of Workforce Development (DWD). The program provides up to $10 million grants to design and implement innovative plans that solve the workforce challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This program encourages the development of leading-edge, long-term solutions that enable businesses to find workers and empower those workers to prepare for and connect to the family-supporting careers in their regions more easily and more successfully.

Both non-profit and governmental entities are eligible to apply for the grants, which will be awarded in two rounds. Applications for Round 1 are due no later than 5:00 PM CST on October 25, 2021, with awards announced in mid-November 2021. Program dates and application details for Round 2 will be announced in 2022.

Applications must address a region’s most pressing pandemic-related workforce challenge and offer a solution specific to the region’s need. These may include, but are not limited to:

· Training and/or reskilling initiatives for in-demand jobs

· Career counseling or coaching services

· Access to transit or broadband solutions

· Childcare solutions or supportive services

The Workforce Innovation Grant Program will reward creativity, promote sustainable regional collaboration with local workforce development boards. 

For more information about how to partner with a workforce board contact Josh Morby from WWDA today by email at wwda@wwda.org. 

October 4, 2021