As originally published in full by The Daily Reporter.
WRTP | BIG STEP was the White House’s chosen organization to lead construction coordination and job training amid the federal investment.
Because Milwaukee was named the next Workforce Hub, dedicated funding for apprenticeships in the area will grow by at least $650,000, federal officials said. WRTP | BIG STEP’s partners will make investments in their organization as they will draw in new talent to the skilled trades.
Those investments included $350,000 from MMSD to WRTP | BIG STEP for certified pre-apprenticeship programs, officials said. The sum includes transportation assistance, stipends for trainees, and ongoing placement and retention for first-year apprentices, officials added.
Employ Milwaukee and philanthropic organizations will invest up to $400,000 in additional funding for WRTP | BIG STEP, including capacity building in apprenticeship readiness initiatives, officials said.
Employ Milwaukee will use formula funds from the U.S. Department of Labor to support training cohorts to meet the needs of the local construction industry, with a goal of training 60 – 80 workers, officials added.
Unions will also invest more in WRTP | BIG STEP, from $625,000 each year in pre-apprenticeship programs, officials said. The program trained more than 1,000 people in 2023.
Regional trades will invest more in WRTP | BIG STEP over the next two years, adding at least three centers for each hour of member work on regional mega projects, officials added. Those projects include the $3.3 billion data center being built by Microsoft in Mount Pleasant. Unions will also partner with Milwaukee Public Schools to prepare students for pre-apprenticeship programs, officials noted.
WRTP Rolls Out Plans during Biden’s Visit
As Biden made his announcement, WRTP | BIG STEP officials said the group will launch outreach efforts to reach more stakeholders.
“We are honored to be named the anchor institution for Milwaukee’s Workforce Hub,” said Lindsay Blumer, the CEO of WRTP | BIG STEP. “This designation provides a tremendous opportunity to align employers with a diverse, skilled workforce while creating pathways to economic mobility for Milwaukee residents,” she added.
The organization will engage employers, industry associations and contractors to educate employers on what the Workforce Hub designation means and get stakeholders to the table early, WRTP officials said. WRTP | BIG STEP plans to work with union leadership on apprenticeship pipelines.
WRTP | BIG STEP will partner with the Walnut Way Conservation Corporation to coordinate with community-based organizations across Milwaukee and reach underrepresented communities, connecting them to training programs, apprenticeships and employment opportunities, officials added.
Read the full article by Ethan Duran for The Daily Reporter.