MILWAUKEE, WI (March 18, 2025) – Milwaukee-based WRTP | BIG STEP has been awarded funding from Madison-based Ascendium Education Group to lead the newly formed Apprenticeship Pathway Coalition Initiative (APCI).
Ascendium has granted WRTP | BIG STEP up to $10,000,000 over the next five years to develop Wisconsin’s future apprenticeship-focused workforce. These funds are designated to support creating collaborative coalitions and expanding apprenticeship pathways on a statewide level in various industries that align with underrepresented populations in the state of Wisconsin.
This grant directly supports WRTP | BIG STEP’s mission. The funding allows WRTP | BIG STEP to build upon their core mission 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. With current offices located in Milwaukee, Madison, and Racine, WRTP | BIG STEP will expand and develop a statewide network to build Certified Pre-Apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship pathways.
“Being selected for this remarkable grant is a testament to the nationally recognized work we do. We are proud of the impact we have made in southeast Wisconsin and remain dedicated to connecting people throughout the entire state to family-sustaining careers,” said WRTP | BIG STEP President & CEO Lindsay Blumer. “We look forward to leading this coalition with the goal of creating a robust workforce ecosystem that serves both rural and urban areas with equitable access for all Wisconsinites.”
“Ascendium is pleased to support WRTP | BIG STEP in expanding apprenticeship pathways across Wisconsin,” said Brittany Corde, Senior Program Officer at Ascendium. “We believe apprenticeships are a critical part of the landscape of workforce training opportunities that should be available to help more learners from low-income backgrounds achieve upward mobility. We’re excited to see WRTP | BIG STEP’s continued leadership in our home state of Wisconsin, creating long-term impact for the state’s learners and employers.”
Under the Apprenticeship Pathway Coalition Initiative (APCI), combined with its history dating back 50 years, WRTP | BIG STEP will significantly broaden the scale of apprenticeship readiness and training for apprenticeable career opportunities statewide.
Through comprehensive and intentional planning, WRTP | BIG STEP will develop the foundational infrastructure to build equitable apprenticeship access and opportunities statewide for both industry and community. This work involves leveraging and developing collaborative partnerships and programming with statewide organizations, agencies, industry stakeholders, employers, unions, and community organizations to build a functional and comprehensive apprenticeship pathway ecosystem.
ABOUT WRTP | BIG STEP
WRTP | BIG STEP is a 501(c)3 nonprofit workforce intermediary dedicated to connecting people to family-sustaining jobs. Our 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.
