Walker announces additional grants for Youth Apprenticeship

MADISON (WITI) -- Governor Scott Walker announced Wednesday, January 15th that additional grant awards totaling over $226,700 to support Wisconsin's Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program.

The program trains high school juniors and seniors for in-demand occupations with local employers around Wisconsin.

"Wisconsin's Youth Apprenticeship program is a key part of my administration's focus on developing Wisconsin's workforce and preparing individuals with the skills needed to fill jobs employers have available," Governor Walker said. "The close partnership with employers ensures that students have the opportunity to learn the skills that that are in demand by employers, and this additional investment will support even more of these opportunities."

Governor Walker's announcement follows his signing in December of legislation to provide an additional $500,000 toward YA grant awards during the current fiscal year, and another $500,000 in fiscal year 2015. The measure garnered the state Legislature's overwhelming bipartisan support, including unanimous passage by the Senate.

The additional funds will go to existing YA consortiums that received $1.86 million in funds for the 2013-14 school year, bringing the total investment to nearly $2.1 million.  DWD anticipates allocating the remaining funds for the current fiscal year in the coming months based on student enrollment.

The YA program helps to prepare students for the world of work while they complete high school. Following an interview with an employer, students participate in on-the-job training and can receive technical college-level instruction. High school students who complete the program receive a Youth Apprenticeship completion certificate, may potentially receive technical college credit, and have the skills needed for an entry-level job in their chosen program area.

Wisconsin's YA program was noted as an "Exemplar of Employer Engagement" in the 2011 "Pathways to Prosperity" report issued by the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The program was highlighted due to the number of YA graduates who enroll in post-secondary education or enter the workforce after completion.

A list of the YA consortiums and additional funding is attached.

For more information on Wisconsin's YA program, visit http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/youthapprenticeship/.









































































































































Consortium Name



Additional Award


Central WI Consortium

$2,430


CESA 1

$3,467


CESA 11

$6,381


CESA 6

$18,747


Chippewa Valley Consortium

$15,174


Fond du Lac School-to-Work

$11,302


GPS Partners

$10,209


Green Bay Partners in Education

$4,234


Kenosha Unified School District

$3,624


Manitowoc County Consortium

$6,077


Marinette-Oconto Consortium

$7,396


Mid-Wisconsin School-to-Work Partnership

$3,631


Milton/Edgerton School-to-Work

$2,199


Milwaukee Public Schools

$3,132


Mississippi Valley Consortium

$4,369


North Central Career and Technical Education

$3,904


North Central School-to-Career Partnership

$3,902


Northwest CEP, Inc.

$4,369


RAMAC

$11,191


Rock Co School-to-Work Partnership

$8,240


Sheboygan Area Consortium

$6,695


South Central WI YA Partnership

$39,142


South Shore Consortium

$2,320


Southwest WI Consortium

$4,629


Sparta Area Consortium

$1,289


St. Croix Valley Consortium

$3,192


Tomah Consortium

$3,221


Trempealeau Valley Consortium

$7,397


Waukesha Co School-to-Work Partnership

$19,159


Wolf River School-to-Work

$765


Workforce 2020

$4,939



TOTAL



$226,726