MADISON, Wis (Civic Media) – The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has awarded $206,130.68 in Regional Career and Education Equipment grants to eight school districts in Southeast Wisconsin. The funding aims to prepare approximately 2,000 students for quality jobs and address the state’s skilled workforce shortage by upgrading career and technical education training equipment and facilities.
The grants, funded by a 2020 donation from the IKEA US Community Foundation, will support various projects, including modernizing manufacturing labs, launching a meat science laboratory, and providing tools for advanced culinary training.
“Each of these grants will help students develop foundational skills and prepare them for the workforce,” said DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek. “By providing training in industries where skilled workers are in short supply, school districts are connecting students with stable careers and helping to reduce higher education costs through dual enrollment credits, industry-endorsed certificates, and technical endorsements.”
The School District of South Milwaukee will receive $29,789.20 to purchase a new TRAK CNC knee mill, while the Wauwatosa School District will use $29,995.51 to buy 18 Dell Precision computer workstations. Kenosha Unified School District will acquire Snap-on certification kits with its $30,000 grant, and Milwaukee Public Schools will launch a meat science laboratory with $29,654.25. Other recipients include Williams Bay School District, Lake Geneva-Genoa City Union High School District, Elkhorn Area School District, and Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District, which will use their grants for various technical education enhancements.
These investments are part of a broader effort to address workforce needs and improve racial equality in employment in Kenosha, Racine, Walworth, and Milwaukee counties. The grants will enable students to gain hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment, preparing them for careers in high-demand fields.
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