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RWA In Action

Innovation Fund Round II Awards

On December 11, 2008, $718,345 in WIRED funds were awarded for demonstration and implementation investments.  For a complete list of the investments, please follow this link:  WIRED Funded Projects.doc

To read the full press release on the event and view photos of the grant awardees, please click on the link below: 

News and Updates

All Committee Meeting

 Mike Mortell and Beth Norris

RWA committee members gathered on November 20, 2008 for a "State of the Alliance" event at the Tommy G. Thompson Youth Center at State Fair Park.  Michael Mortell, RWA program coordinator, facilitated the event and

began the meeting by discussing the importance of aligning the workforce system with education and talent development to create a talent development network in the Milwaukee 7 region.

An overview of the Priority Projects and their corresponding task force groups was given followed by task force break-out sessions whereby allowing members to hear an overview of a particular task force of their choosing and offer their expertise and input. 

A powerpoint summary of the meeting can be viewed here:  RWA 11/20/08 ACM Slides.ppt  

Technical Assistance Reports

WMEP Survey

Earlier this year RWA helped fund and promote a study of next generation manufacturing.  It is a state-wide study, but we wanted to ensure participation of manufacturers within our region.  The initial results are being released this week.  The link below has an extensive article on the study:

WMEP: Next Generation Manufacturing a winning strategy for Wisconsin firms

Elizabeth Thelen will be helping assess the results and developing an action plan specific to our region.

Adult Basic Education

The RWA commissioned The Center on Wisconsin Strategy (COWS) to conduct a study of current Adult Basic Education (ABE) students. 

The M7 region is working to build the skills of the workforce and ensure that regional employers have the employees with skill level they need.  This study provides insightful information on a key population in need of skills-the ABE student.   The goal is to understand the population in order to connect them to technical colleges and other post-secondary credentials so they can advance in the regional economy. 

To read the full report, please click on this link:

Focusing on Adult Based Education

For more information on the Center on Wisconsin Strategy, visit their website:

Center on Wisconsin Strategy

In the News

The Journal Sentinel recently featured the following articles about previous WIRED grant recepients.  To read the full articles, please follow the links below:

Green-collar jobs need educated workers

Schools cooperate for industry

Regional Workforce Alliance

The Regional Workforce Alliance (RWA) is a collaboration of organizations representing workforce development, economic development and education across southeastern Wisconsin.  Led by the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board, the Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington Workforce Development Board and the Southeast Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, the Alliance invests in strategies to build the skilled workforce that Milwaukee-area businesses need to compete in today’s global economy. Many of the initiatives of this group are supported by funds awarded by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s Growing Regional Opportunities in Wisconsin (GROW) grant.

The RWA is leading the implementation of the WIRED grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.  The Milwaukee 7, as the region’s economic development force, is also involved in the initiative.

Herb Tennies, Washington Co. Board Chair (l) join Julia Taylor, President of the Greater Milwaukee Committee and Jim Dwyer, Waukesha Co. Board Chair at the RWA Local Elected Official Oversight Board Meeting on December 11, 2008.