Federal government gives Madison area $4 million to expand health care apprenticeships
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The US Department of Labor announced $95 million in grants to bolster apprenticeship programs, and a Madison nonprofit will receive a portion of the money.
The Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin will receive $4 million as part of the Apprenticeship Building America program.
The nonprofit organization, which supports a number of employment support initiatives in the area, will use the money to boost two health care apprenticeships. Both are run through Madison College with support from SSM Health and UW Health.
An existing program trains registered nurses, medical assistants, and respiratory therapists. The second is under development, but will support new surgical technologists.
“This significant investment will empower our partnerships with key workforce, industry and education partners to expand and establish crucial apprenticeship pathways in healthcare,” Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin CEO Seth Lentz said.
The first cohort of about 20 workers will begin their training with the aid of the new funding this fall. More will follow next year. The board expects that money will help at least 400 people get training.
Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin celebrated the announcement. “We know there is a big demand for skilled workers in the health care sector, and this funding will help more Wisconsinites to earn while they learn, equipping them with the needed skills to close this critical gap and land a good-paying job,” Baldwin said. “This really is a win-win: more Wisconsinites are connected to family-supporting careers and our hospitals and doctor’s offices get the skilled workers they need.”
The state Department of Workforce Development (DWD) supported the board in pursuing the grant funding.
“Today, we continue our leadership by providing training solutions across traditional and emerging sectors, including healthcare,” DWD Sec. Amy Pechacek said. “This funding and these partnerships will broaden DWD’s healthcare apprenticeship opportunities and help to address the industry’s pressing workforce needs.”
Lentz said anyone interested in joining the apprenticeship programs, or learning more about them, should visit the board’s website: www.wdbscw.org.