News and Updates

by Chiara Thorn.
Last Updated by RWA ADMIN.

Public Not categorized.

Not tagged.

Regional Workforce Alliance of Southeastern Wisconsin

Announces WIRED Innovation Fund Awards

Milwaukee, Wis., December 11, 2008 –The Regional Workforce Alliance (RWA) of Southeastern Wisconsin today announced award recipients in Round II of its WIRED Innovation Fund. The RWA awarded a total of $886,455 to thirteen area partnerships proposing innovative talent-development solutions in the seven-county Milwaukee 7 region including Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha Counties.

The WIRED initiative, which stands for Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development, aims to foster new partnerships and new ways of delivering education and training in order to enhance the talent development system for the region. 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.

One component of the WIRED initiative for southeastern Wisconsin is the WIRED Innovation Fund, a $2.5 million resource that invests in innovative programs, projects and activities to transform key elements of the talent development system in the region. Today’s awards bring the total Innovation Fund investments in 2008 to $1,633,900.

“The RWA Innovation Fund is designed to spark new ideas and make connections between groups within our region,” said Michael Mortell, RWA / WIRED Coordinator. “The challenges that regions face, and more importantly the opportunities ahead, are too big for any single organization to tackle alone. Innovation happens at the intersections when people link resources between organizations.”

Round II awardees include: $50,000 to BizStarts Milwaukee, Inc. for their BizLearn College Initiative; $145,000 to BizStarts Milwaukee, Inc. for their Venture Track Initiative; $66,600 to Spotted Eagle, Inc. for Building Engineering Aptitude through Robotics (BEAR); $100,000 to the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board for the English Learner Manufacturing Skills Pipeline Regional Entry Project; $74,995 to CESA#1 for their Opening Doors to the Future project; $41,750 to Waukesha County Technical College’s Project Lead The Way Bridge Curriculum; $120,000 for the launch of Spreenkler; and $120,000 to the Wisconsin Foundation for Independent Colleges for the 'Think Insurance' Initiative.

"BizStarts Milwaukee will put the WIRED money to good use in short order as we take steps to recharge the regional economy with entrepreneurial energy,” said John B. Torinus Jr., Chairman of Serigraph Inc. "The goal is to start many more companies that employ people in the region. The entrepreneurs that are driving the initiative mean to make that happen. The WIRED grants are our start-up capital."

"The Think Insurance project introduces college students to a career in insurance, a growth industry in Wisconsin. Without talent, the industry simply can’t grow, so the WIRED funds are critical to our success and the success of the M7 region,” said Mark Torinus, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Foundation for Independent Colleges.

Exploratory Investments awarded on 12/11/08 include: $35,000 for the University of Wisconsin – Parkside’s Articulation Agreement Task Force; $30,000 to Running Rebels Community Organization for their Project-Based Training Program; $35,000 to Engineers & Scientists of Milwaukee for the STEM 7 Clearinghouse; $33,610 to the University of Wisconsin – Extension for Sustainable Management Degree Development; and $34,500 to Discovery World – Milwaukee for a Water Industry Educational Programs Inventory.

“This set of Innovation Fund projects represents one step toward building the strong and proactive talent development network that employers in the region need in order to stay competitive,” said Mortell. “Having a steady stream of talent, at all levels of employment, is good for employers, great for workers, and even better for the next generation living in our 7-county region who will inherit a vibrant economy. “

About WIRED

WIRED, which stands for Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development, is a federal initiative designed to energize the nation’s economy through regional economic development partnerships and workforce education and training. The Milwaukee 7 region of southeastern Wisconsin is one of 39 areas across the United States participating in the WIRED initiative. Background on the Southeastern Wisconsin WIRED Initiative and the Regional Workforce Alliance can be found at: http://www.milwaukee7-rwa.org/http://www.milwaukee7-rwa.org. For details on the national WIRED program, visit http://www.doleta.gov/http://www.doleta.gov.

The following WIRED recepients were presented their awards from (l to r): Herb Tennies, Washington Co. Board Chair; Jim Dwyer, Waukesha Co. Board Chair; Julia Taylor, President of the Greater Milwaukee Committee; Michael Mortell, RWA; and Nancy Russell, Walworth Co. Board.