Wisconsin Doesn’t Take Your Work for ‘Granted’

West Central Works helps employers and workers navigate grant process 

There is approximately $6 million in federal grant funding available to assist Wisconsin employers and employees to work at full capacity. Navigating these grant funds and government programs is often daunting, but West Central Works (WCW) is available to simplify the process.

With a staff dedicated to helping workers and businesses succeed, WCW assists with finding solutions for the grant application process, presents it clearly and concisely, and completes the cumbersome paperwork for submission. These grants are vital to the success of organizations in the local community. For employers, grant money often pays for training, subsidizes salaries and pays for relocations. For workers, it helps them find and keep a job by subsidizing the cost of activities that could prevent them from working - like daycare or home internet.

WCW is featuring the QUEST Grant now. This grant is for anyone interested in entering the childcare industry. There is a major need for childcare workers in Wisconsin, and the QUEST Grant provides support and training needed to get individuals back to or working in the early childcare field in the state. Services covered by the grant include tuition assistance, education, employment, childcare, transportation, housing, incentives and On-The-Job Training. For more information, contact Robert Mirshak at rmirshak@wdbwcw.org or (917)-282-0687.

Other grant opportunities 

WCW is an excellent resource for other financial assistance possibilities. Find the right one for you on the WCW website, or learn more about a select few below.

The Worker Advancement Initiative is ideal for businesses still negatively impacted by COVID-19. The Worker Advancement Initiative can pay for training new and existing employees. It serves people whose previous employment has not returned from the pandemic and those who were not attached to or were not successful in the labor market before the pandemic. The Worker Advancement Initiative offers subsidized employment and skills training opportunities with local employers. It builds on the success of current transitional jobs programs in the state by launching a new, statewide effort to provide subsidized work opportunities.  For more information, contact Amanda Soltau at asoltau@nwwib.com or 715-235-8393 ext. 106.

The Pathways Home 2 Grant helps the Department of Corrections provide pre-release services and prepares individuals for their return to their communities in the following counties: Barron, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix.

The H-1B Rural Healthcare Grant alleviates healthcare workforce shortages in rural counties by creating sustainable employment and training programs. It serves underemployed, underserved and unemployed individuals looking for a career in the healthcare field.

The STC Grant for Opioid Recovery provides training, career services and supportive services to individuals impacted by the opioid crisis.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act strengthens and improves the nation's public workforce system and helps get Americans, including youth and those with significant barriers to employment, into high-quality jobs and careers and helps employers hire and retain skilled workers.

Windows to Work is a program that helps inmates about to be released into the West Central Wisconsin workforce development area find and secure employment to ensure successful reintegration into the community.

Click here to learn more about these grant opportunities and more in West Central Wisconsin.