Blueprint for Prosperity

The Blueprint for Prosperity initiative expands the Wisconsin Fast Forward program through an additional investment of $35.4 million in State General Purpose Revenue to provide in-demand skills training grants for three target populations to:

  • Reduce Wisconsin Technical College wait lists for students
  • Train high schools students for high demand jobs
  • Offer employment skills training to persons with disabilities, including service-disabled veterans

Find Blueprint for Prosperity initiative grant outcomes in Wisconsin Fast Forward Annual Reports.

Wisconsin Technical College Wait List Reduction Grants

The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) – Office of Skills Development (OSD) issued a total of $28,021,052 in grant awards to the 16 Wisconsin Technical Colleges to reduce wait lists for 4,908 students enrolled in 100 high demand programs. OSD developed the grant program in partnership with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and Wisconsin Technical College System to ensure that training opportunities addressed the current and ongoing skill requirements of Wisconsin employers. OSD applied nine criteria to objectively score applications and make funding recommendations, and grants were awarded on a competitive basis.

The 16 Wisconsin Technical Colleges collectively exceeded program enrollment outcomes nine months before grants closed. As a result, DWD provided the technical colleges with an opportunity to extend grant training through December 31, 2016.

Access the Technical College Wait List Reduction Grant Award Summary for award details by technical college.

Frequently Asked Questions

High School Pupil Worker Training Grants

High School Pupil Worker Training grants support Wisconsin employer-driven workforce training programs in collaboration with business organizations, school districts, educational partners and/or technical colleges to train and hire high school students. Training includes work-based learning, apprenticeship preparation and dual credit models. Success projects ensure that graduates receive industry-recognized certifications from the 2016 Career and Technical Education Incentive Grants List, and obtain employment in documented high-demand fields. To date, OSD has awarded nearly $5.5 million in grants to train over 2,350 students.

Previous High School Pupil Grants:

Worker Training Grant Program Announcement for Wisconsin High School Pupils (BP161HSP):
Total funding set-aside: $3,000,000
Applicant Types: Wisconsin companies of any size in collaboration with school districts, technical colleges, employers and/or other partners
Award amount: $5,000 to $150,000
Match: $.50:$1 ($.50 applicant / $1 WFF)
Deadline: March 16, 2016 at 11:59 PM – Application Now Closed

Worker Training Grant Program Announcement for Wisconsin High School Pupils (BP151HSP):
Total funding set-aside: $3,000,000
Applicant Types: Wisconsin companies of any size in collaboration with school districts, technical colleges, employers and/or other partners
Award amount: $5,000 to $150,000
Match: $.50:$1 ($.50 applicant / $1 WFF)
Deadline: February 02, 2016 at 11:59 PM – Application Now Closed

Worker Training Grant Program Announcement for Wisconsin High School Pupils (BP142HSP):
Total funding set-aside: $1,500,000
Applicant Types: Wisconsin companies of any size in collaboration with school districts, technical colleges, employers and/or other partners
Award amount: $5,000 to $150,000
Match: $.50:$1 ($.50 applicant / $1 WFF)
Deadline: April 21, 2016 at 11:59 PM – Application Now Closed

Workforce Training Grants for Persons with Disabilities:

Developing recruitment and hiring strategies that include persons with disabilities can help businesses improve their bottom line. To help individuals with disabilities gain marketable and valuable workforce skills to address the talent development needs of Wisconsin employers, OSD partnered with the DWD – Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to release the following Grant Program Announcements (GPAs): Training Workers with Disabilities and Project SEARCH Expansion.

Training Workers with Disabilities

Training Workers with Disabilities grant funds help Wisconsin businesses diversify their workforce and increase productivity by training and hiring persons with disabilities and veterans with service-connected disabilities. Eligible grant projects include employer defined and market relevant work readiness and technical skills training, optimally leading trainees with disabilities to permanent employment opportunities with participating business.

Training Workers with Disabilities (BP142PWD):
Total funding set-aside: $1,000,000
Company Size: Any
Award amount: $5,000 to $100,000
Deadline: September 16, 2014 at 11:59 PM - Application Now Closed

Access these resources for more information: Frequently Asked Questions and Grant Award Summaries.

Project SEARCH Expansion Grants

The Blueprint for Prosperity initiative includes $850,000 to expand the number of Project SEARCH sites across Wisconsin to help prepare students with disabilities for their transition to the workforce. Coordinated by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services in partnership with DWD's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Project SEARCH provides youth with blended employability skills training in a classroom and through an internship at Wisconsin employer's worksite.

Learn more about Project SEARCH.

Blueprint Grant Administration

Round 3 Specific Information

Round 2 Specific Information

Round 1 Specific Information


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