Applications are now open for the Wisconsin Fast Forward (WFF) standard grant program to award funds to businesses from all Wisconsin industry sectors that reimburse the costs of customized occupational training for unemployed, underemployed, and incumbent workers.
Donor Name: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
State: Wisconsin
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/28/2023
Size of the Grant: $5,000 to $400,000
Grant Duration: 2 years
Details:
This grant opportunity is for employers who can demonstrate a critical need for skilled workers and are seeking training grants to develop and implement a business-led skills training program. A skilled workforce is vital to economic development and community growth in Wisconsin.
WFF training programs are designed to provide sustainable, short- and medium-term training and to place workers in positions that offer trainees long-term professional growth and economic opportunity. This training will assist with adding new individuals into the workforce and increasing wage growth for the trainees. Growth in both areas will allow workers to have greater purchasing power, making them better able to support local businesses, invest in their communities, and create new and greater demand for goods and services. In turn, this will create new opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs. This approach maintains a strong environment for private-sector job creation in Wisconsin through continued growth and expansion.
The long-term goal of the WFF Industry Sectors Worker Training Grant program is to encourage statewide economic growth by assisting employers to train workers and fill positions, as well as to ensure meaningful economic advancement for trainees.
The Wisconsin Fast Forward (WFF) program is a state-funded grant program that provides employer-led worker training grants. The Office of Skills Development (OSD) at the Department of Workforce Development (DWD or Department) administers the grant program.
Funding Information
Grant awards range from $5,000 to $400,000 per grantee.
Project Period
The grant period is up to two years
Eligibility Criteria
This GPA is open for all industry sectors. Applications must propose a workforce training program that:
- Includes at least one employer (employment placement partner) with a presence in Wisconsin and has trainees based out of the Wisconsin location.
- Meets documented needs of employers for skilled workers.
- Does not replace routine, ongoing training, or existing training that was previously funded by other sources.
- Secures and documents match commitments for 50 cents for each dollar awarded, as cash and/or in kind match to the project.
- Supports training projects comprised of one or more courses, each lasting no longer than 12 months
- Provides transferrable skills and/or leads to industry-recognized credentials.
- Successful trainee completion results in:
- Hiring unemployed workers to fill vacant or new positions,
- Improving employment for underemployed workers (seasonal to temporary/permanent or parttime to full-time), or
- Obtaining higher wages, more hours, and/or more permanent employment by incumbent employees.
Employment categories and trainee cohorts to be identified in the application include the following:
- Unemployed individuals: Trainees who are not employed at the time of application.
- Underemployed workers: Trainees who currently work below skill level or part-time but desire fulltime work at the time of training.
- Incumbent employees: Trainees who are employed at an employer placement partner prior to, and at the time of, application.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include the following:
- A public agency.
- A private organization.
- A coalition or partnership of entities under the auspices of a public agency or a private organization.
- The tribal governing body of a federally recognized tribe or band of Native Americans, or an organization appointed by the tribal governing body.
Eligible applicants must be financially viable. Eligible applicants, except tribal governing bodies, must also be current on all federal and state tax obligations.
It is recommended that applicants represent a consortium that includes partners with similar talent development needs.
The members of this consortium may include any of the following:
- An industry sector partner.
- A non-profit.
- A public training provider.
- A private training provider.
- A Tribal government or organization appointed by the Tribal governing body.
- A Wisconsin Workforce Development Board.
- A Wisconsin Technical College.
For more information, visit Industry Sectors Worker Training Grants.
