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The Dunn County Job Center, located in Menomonie, WI, serves job seekers in significant ways. As a part of the One-Stop-Operator (OSO) system, the Dunn County Job Center provides programming and services for job seekers. OSOs, or American Job Centers, streamline the job-seeking process for regional communities. By partnering with...
Request for Proposals: Adult and Dislocated Worker Career Pathway Development Program Services
Aug 19 2023West Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board (West Central WDB) administers programs under the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA), Department of Corrections, Department of Children and Families, and other funding sources.
The organization is directed by a board of directors, comprised of individuals with diverse backgrounds including private for-profit...
EV and Semiconductor Projects Stand Out in States Receiving Area Development’s 18th Annual Shovel Awards
Aug 14 2023If there’s one thing that has been consistent with our Shovel Awards from year to year, it’s the fact that nothing gets in the way of progress and good news. Even amid challenging times such as the COVID pandemic, lots of positive developments move forward. The uncertainty we all felt...
It was the perfect storm for the semiconductor industry. The COVID-19 pandemic stirred up major trouble in supply chains in early 2020, including disruptions in chip manufacturing in such places as South Korea and Taiwan. Meanwhile, demand for semiconductors increased, in part because the pandemic had so many people working...
The automotive industry is on the cusp of its most massive transition in generations, as gasoline-powered vehicles make way for electric vehicles, or EVs. By the middle of the next decade, many if not most new cars produced will be electric, and that means a huge shift in the manufacturing...
An ongoing industrial revolution fueled by digitalization, decarbonization, and electrification has changed the conversation on energy and prompted a race to the grid in many parts of the country. Fast-tracked industrial projects are now the norm as project teams navigate increased construction costs, inflationary financing, supply chain challenges, and increased...
The southeastern United States has become a focal point for electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers and their suppliers as automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) place their bets on EV plants that will usher in the EV era. These new plants are essential to the long-term growth plans of the OEMs, and...
Smart cities harness technology to improve their urban efficiency. Compared to a traditional city, they are better prepared for sudden and rapid urbanization, power shortages, congestion and pollution. Ultimately, the intentional and creatively designed public resources improve the quality of services delivered to their citizens while reducing operational headaches —...
Not all high school graduates continue their education at a two- or four-year college or university. Many choose to enter the job market or enlist in a military branch. Whichever path they choose, North Carolina intends for them to be not just successful, but in demand by employers or supervisors...
If you want to gain a competitive edge in the race to hire talent, you may want to consider doing what many American workers have already done: Move out of the big city.
What many thought was just a blip during the COVID-19 pandemic — people fleeing big cities...
How important is sustainability, really, to today’s global manufacturers? I put the question to Scott Gatzemeier, the corporate vice president of front end US expansion at Micron who’s leading the construction of new semiconductor manufacturing projects in New York and Idaho worth tens of billions of dollars.
“Sustainability is...
Whenever the issue of job-hopping comes up, it is important to first acknowledge that employees are often not responsible for a CV that reflects a lot of movement. There are layoffs and bosses or colleagues who turn out to be overbearing or sexist — and even whole workplaces that are...
Rural areas offer unique opportunities for businesses to thrive, with lower operating costs, access to natural resources, and a strong sense of community. However, attracting businesses to rural areas can be a challenge for many economic developers. Here are some strategies to get you started.
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As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business-Cooperative Service Administrator Dr. Karama Neal today announced that USDA is making $21 million in technical assistance grants available through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses...
IT is at a fascinating inflection point. For years, they’ve been tasked with both running and modernizing the infrastructure that underpins businesses—a challenge not for the faint of heart. Whether they quickly embraced the cloud for its speed and agility, or followed a more measured path to modernization, they’ve likely...
The Impact of Social Media on Marketing & SEO Strategies for Economic Development Organizations
Jul 10 2023Social media has revolutionized how businesses market themselves, and economic development organizations are no exception. In today’s digital age, economic developers must leverage social media platforms to reach a wider audience and promote their region’s economic growth.
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Erik Hinch, One Stop Operator Coordinator at Workforce Resource Inc., works to ensure the accessibility of job-seeking resources across West Central Wisconsin. American Job Centers, or One-Stop-Operators, offer several vital job seeking services in a streamlined structure. A partnership of government agencies and community-based organizations, The West Central Wisconsin Job...
Wisconsin is seeing more rural population growth than most other Midwest states, particularly in areas where tourism plays a big role in the local economy.
That’s according to the latest Wisconsin Policy Forum report, which shows the state’s rural population grew 5.1 percent between 2000 and 2022. That’s the...
Three Wisconsin road projects will receive $34.8 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), after the transportation agency disbursed $2.2 billion for projects in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and two territories this year.
The projects include a bicycle trail in Kenosha County, the Villard Avenue Corridor in...
The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has published updated workforce profiles for Wisconsin's 72 counties. Each profile provides county-level information, analysis, and data to help employers, job seekers, economic developers, and other workforce partners make decisions related to the labor market economy.
Read the complete article here. ...
Workforce Solutions are Here in Wisconsin!
Jun 29 2023West Central Works is aimed at helping workers and businesses succeed here in West Central Wisconsin! With a staff of approximately 100 employees, we are dedicated to helping you in every way possible. This is thanks to federal funding, which has been allocated to assist displaced workers, disabled workers, students...
When you live in Wisconsin, it’s easy to take our incredible natural resources for granted. We have clean water, healthy forests, and spectacular trails throughout the entire state. These natural resources are more than just beautiful to look at. They provide unmatched opportunities for agriculture, forestry, and tourism that are...
Social media is a powerful tool, providing rich opportunities to communicate with community members directly and put people in touch with each other. It can showcase your organization’s work and highlight the role of partners that help create a vibrant community. It is a brand-building tool under your control that...
Public Service Commission Chairperson Rebecca Valcq is praising a $1.05 billion investment in broadband for the state, saying along with public and private dollars, the funding “will make it possible to achieve our goal of internet for all.”
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, and U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Town...
