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Jim Doyle Governor Roberta Gassman Secretary

State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, May 28, 2009 CONTACT: Dick Jones, Agency Liaison, 608-267-4780

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY 201 East Washington Avenue P.O. Box 7946 Madison, WI 53707-7946 Telephone: (608) 266-3131 Fax: (608) 266-1784 http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/ e-mail: [email protected]

Secretary Gassman Alerts Manufacturers to Worker Training Grants
Governor Doyle providing $85,000 more for Manufacturing Skill Standards Certification
MADISON ­ Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman today encouraged Wisconsin manufacturers to join their regional workforce development agencies in applying for $85,000 in new funding that Governor Doyle has provided for training grants to help workers earn the industry's top national credential, Manufacturing Skill Standards Certification (MSSC). "Wisconsin is home to the best manufacturing companies in the world, and Governor Doyle's MSSC initiative will keep us at the forefront with skilled workers second to none," Secretary Gassman said. "Master Lock, Harley Davidson, and Federal Tool & Engineering, among others, see the value in MSSC training. Their MSSC trained workers give them a competitive edge in today's challenging global economy. We urge others, both employers and workers, to take advantage of the substantial rewards the MSSC credential offers." Wisconsin became the first state to formally embrace the national MSSC program. In 2007, Governor Doyle allocated $250,000 in grants to local workforce development boards, enabling them to partner with technical colleges and develop a manufacturing skill certification system throughout the state. As part of his Grow Wisconsin ­ The Next Steps plan, Governor Doyle has set a goal of having 40 percent of Wisconsin's manufacturing workers achieve MSSC standing by 2016. The $85,000 for additional is part of a nearly $6 million worker training package Governor Doyle announced in March. The MSSC grants and other items in the package are funded from existing federal sources. The rigorous MSSC program includes training in four modules: safety in the workplace, quality and continuous improvements, processes and production, and maintenance awareness. Workers completing all four sessions earn the top MSSC credential, Certified Production Technician. For more information about MSSC, visit the following site: http://mssc.wisconsin.gov/. DWD will award up to five grants with none exceeding $21,250. To maximize resources available for training, local matching funds are required ­ a minimum of 25 percent of the grant amount requested. If the proposed project involves customized training at a company, a 50 percent match is required of the employer. Individuals eligible for training funded with MSSC grants include: incumbent workers, dislocated workers, adult job seekers, and youth transitioning from high school to post secondary education or employment. Grant applications must be submitted by regional workforce development boards and their MSSC Assessment Center partners. Manufacturers interested in MSSC training are urged to work with their regional boards on a grant proposal. Contact information for the 11 regional boards can be found at the following link: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwdwia/PDF/wda_list.pdf. The regional boards must submit grant applications by 4 p.m. on June 19, 2009, to Amy Phillips, DWD MSSC Coordinator, at [email protected]. - 30 Wisconsin.gov