MILWAUKEE, WI (January 21, 2026) – The Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership | Building Industry Group Skilled Trades Employment Program (WRTP | BIG STEP) has been awarded a Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to train Wisconsin women for family-sustaining careers as commercial drivers and union skilled tradesworkers.
The $750,000 WANTO grant will support the expansion of She Drives the Future, a 12-week pre-apprenticeship program that combines WRTP | BIG STEP’s Entry-Level Construction Skills (ELCS) training curriculum with commercial driver’s license (CDL) preparation. Training will take place at WRTP | BIG STEP locations across Wisconsin, with initial cohorts launching in Milwaukee and Racine this year and expanding to Northeast and Northwest Wisconsin in 2027. Thanks to the two-year grant, the training will be provided to at least 60 Wisconsin women at no cost to them.
She Drives the Future addresses persistent workforce shortages in construction, transportation, and other skilled trades, while opening doors for women, who have historically been underrepresented in these industries. Wisconsin is projected to add more than 14,000 construction jobs by 2032, according to the state’s Department of Workforce Development. At the same time, women make up just 9% of construction workers and 6% of CDL holders in Wisconsin.
“Employers across the state are facing critical labor shortages, and She Drives the Future addresses this issue by creating a diverse talent pipeline statewide,” said Lindsay Blumer, president & chief executive officer of WRTP | BIG STEP. “She Drives the Future helps close that gap by preparing women to succeed in registered apprenticeships and long-term careers that pay family-sustaining wages.”
Women enrolled in She Drives the Future will receive industry-recognized certifications and hands-on training, including CDL permit prep, new driver orientation and assessment, classroom instruction, OSHA certification, first aid/CPR, hands-on projects, and more. Participants may also earn incentive payments for meeting program milestones, encouraging program completion and supporting the financial burden of individuals dedicating 12 weeks to training.
Anyone interested in learning more about She Drives the Future and enrolling in the Milwaukee program should register for an upcoming information session. Registration is available online at https://wrtp.org/series/she-drives-the-future-female-only-elcscdl-class-a-information-session.
Info sessions for Racine and northern Wisconsin locations will be scheduled later in 2026. More information will be available at wrtp.org.
ABOUT WRTP | BIG STEP
WRTP | BIG STEP is a 501(c)3 nonprofit workforce intermediary dedicated to connecting people to family-sustaining jobs. Its mission is to enhance the ability of public and private sector organizations to recruit, develop, and retain a more diverse, qualified workforce in construction, manufacturing, and emerging sectors of the regional economy. Learn more at wrtp.org.