JANESVILLE - Blackhawk Technical College reports that $283,161 in Workforce Advancement Training grants have been secured for nine area businesses.
The grants will be used during the 2017-18 academic year for customized employee training designed to improve productivity and competitiveness, augment the state's economic base and expand technical college training services to business and industry, according to a news release.
Established in 2005, WAT grants are funded by the state of Wisconsin and administered by the Wisconsin Technical College System. Each year, the WTCS awards WAT grants to the state's 16 technical colleges in conjunction with Wisconsin businesses. WAT grants range from $2,500 and $200,000 per company for general businesses and from $2,500 to $50,000 for small businesses.
Occupational skills are the main focus of the grants, but "soft skills" also may be included in the training. Grants are awarded to a technical college in conjunction with an individual business or a consortium of employers who require the same training.
Area businesses that will benefit from a WAT grant this year are Humane Manufacturing, Corporate Contractors Inc., Blackhawk Transport, Emmi Roth USA Inc., Stainless Tank and Equipment, Impact Confections Inc., SSI Technologies Inc., Van Galder and Orchid Monroe LLC.
The partnership with SSI Technologies will allow its employees to develop new skills, the news release said, and Blackhawk Transport has been able to add leadership training classes for its management team.
In the past five years, BTC's workforce development team has helped more than 25 area businesses train more than 10,000 area employees with WAT or Fast Forward grants. According to the news release, the grants have impacted local communities by allowing businesses to retain and retrain experienced workers or expand their workforce.
Employers wishing to partner on a WAT or Fast Forward grant for the 2018-19 academic year should contact Colleen Koerth, BTC manager of workforce development, at ckoerth@blackhawk.edu or 608-743-4597, or Matt Urban at murban@blackhawk.edu or 608-329-8202.
The grants will be used during the 2017-18 academic year for customized employee training designed to improve productivity and competitiveness, augment the state's economic base and expand technical college training services to business and industry, according to a news release.
Established in 2005, WAT grants are funded by the state of Wisconsin and administered by the Wisconsin Technical College System. Each year, the WTCS awards WAT grants to the state's 16 technical colleges in conjunction with Wisconsin businesses. WAT grants range from $2,500 and $200,000 per company for general businesses and from $2,500 to $50,000 for small businesses.
Occupational skills are the main focus of the grants, but "soft skills" also may be included in the training. Grants are awarded to a technical college in conjunction with an individual business or a consortium of employers who require the same training.
Area businesses that will benefit from a WAT grant this year are Humane Manufacturing, Corporate Contractors Inc., Blackhawk Transport, Emmi Roth USA Inc., Stainless Tank and Equipment, Impact Confections Inc., SSI Technologies Inc., Van Galder and Orchid Monroe LLC.
The partnership with SSI Technologies will allow its employees to develop new skills, the news release said, and Blackhawk Transport has been able to add leadership training classes for its management team.
In the past five years, BTC's workforce development team has helped more than 25 area businesses train more than 10,000 area employees with WAT or Fast Forward grants. According to the news release, the grants have impacted local communities by allowing businesses to retain and retrain experienced workers or expand their workforce.
Employers wishing to partner on a WAT or Fast Forward grant for the 2018-19 academic year should contact Colleen Koerth, BTC manager of workforce development, at ckoerth@blackhawk.edu or 608-743-4597, or Matt Urban at murban@blackhawk.edu or 608-329-8202.
