The Sconi

Gov. Tony Evers recently announced that approximately $60 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds have been allocated for various Wisconsin regional projects as part of the Workforce Innovation Grant Program.

Evers announced the Workforce Innovation Grant Program earlier this year and initially allocated $100 million in funds from ARPA to it, according to a press release the governor posted on Twitter. This first round of grants will fund projects including: Attracting health care workers in rural parts of the state, developing the “next generation” of manufacturing workers, expanding childcare, training construction and other skilled craft workers, encouraging entrepreneurship in Kenosha and helping formerly incarcerated people attend the University of Wisconsin. A second round of grants is scheduled for 2022.

"BREAKING: Wisconsin has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, but our state faces workforce challenges that existed long before the pandemic. So today, I announced up to $60M in Workforce Innovation Grants to develop long-term solutions to the challenges we face," Evers wrote in a Dec. 14 Twitter post. "These funds will make a big difference for our workers, families and the long-term success of our state with 12 regional projects to develop cutting-edge strategies tailored to meet the unique needs of different communities and regions. There’s no one-size-fits all solution to the workforce challenges we face, but these funds will make a difference for families, workers, employers and communities across our state in the short- and long-term."

As of September, Wisconsin’s unemployment rate was 3.9%. In Minnesota, it was 3.7% and in Illinois, it was 6.8%, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The Workforce Innovation Grant Program is an effort by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and the Department of Workforce Development to encourage regional organizations to come up with solutions to help the workforce grow and succeed.

Applicants who are chosen can receive up to $10 million in grants.