Legislative Days at State Capitol

Legislative Days provides an opportunity for individuals and businesses to come to Madison to meet with their elected officials and discuss issues of importance to them. Members from Xcel Energy, Wisconsin Economic Development Association, and the Wisconsin Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, met with state senators, legislators, and elected officials this past week. The legislative session will be ending this spring, and a final push to pass important legislation is under way.   

Charles Payne, Founder, CEO & Chief Analyst of Wall Street Strategies; Fox Business Network Contributor; Award-winning author, speaks at Business Day in Madison where members of the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce discussed the international, national, and state business climate. Members also met with state legislators.

Patrick Schloss, President of Wisconsin Economic Development Association, meets with State Representative Joe Sanfelippo (R-West Allis) in the State Assembly parlor. Nearly 50 other members of WEDA met with state senators and legislators throughout the afternoon.

Members of Wisconsin Economic Development Association discuss the day’s meetings while waiting to meet with more state senators and legislators.

A part of WEDA’s legislative agenda has been to devote quite a bit of time to shaping the administrative rules that will govern the Wisconsin Fast Forward Initiative. According to a recent press release, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Secretary Reggie Newson announced the first round of funding in Wisconsin Fast Forward.

At the conference, DWD Secretary Newson announced DWD’s intent to award the first round of demand-driven worker training grants under Governor Walker’s Wisconsin Fast Forward initiative. The approved applications total $2.6 Million for 32 innovative projects and will fund employer-specified training in high-demand fields including manufacturing, customer service and construction. Grant recipients must commit to wage increases and/or new hires.

Governor Walker’s Wisconsin Fast Forward initiative includes $15 million for training grants and created the Office of Skills Development to implement the program. The initiative also includes resources for an expanded Labor Market Information System (LMIS), which will provide real time data to connect employers, job seekers, and workforce partners in making hiring and staffing decisions. For a list of all 32 awards, click here.

Also today, Secretary Newson announced the second round of training grants available in areas including: health care, information technology, transportation and distribution, financial services, manufacturing and construction. To learn how to apply for grants or for more information, visit www.WisconsinFastForward.com.
 

This post was authored by Hamilton intern Rebecca Ballweg.