W-O-W Workforce Development Board Receives Greater Milwaukee Foundation Grant for Building Futures Program

The Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington Workforce Development Board announces the receipt of a $30,600 grant from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s M. Drake Breskvar Fund, Lorraine Albright Flint Fund, Arthur W. Fairchild Fund and the Betty H. Willetts Fund to help support the Building Futures program in Waukesha County. The contribution complements a $1.02 million U.S. Department of Labor YouthBuild grant that was awarded to the Board in August.

“On behalf of our Board, I want to extend our deepest thanks to the Greater Milwaukee Foundation for its supplemental funding commitment for the Building Futures program. This generous gift will further our ability to provide participants with the intensive coaching, case management and mentoring services needed to successfully complete the program and gain meaningful employment in the future,” says W-O-W Workforce Development Board President Francisco Sanchez.

The W-O-W Workforce Development Board’s Building Futures program operates in partnership with the Waukesha County Technical College and the Waukesha Housing Authority and serves young adults ages 18-24 who have dropped out of high school and have multiple barriers to employment. The six-month employment and training program enables participants to gain leadership skills while receiving adult basic education instruction that is designed to assist them with completing their GED or HSED509. In addition, students will learn carpentry and welding skills with the potential to earn industry recognized certificates and college credit from WCTC, as well as job site experience in constructing and remodeling low-income housing in Waukesha County.

After completing the program, participants will have the skills needed for entry level employment in carpentry and manufacturing. In addition, they will receive nine months of case management services to assist with job placement, job retention and higher education opportunities.

Sanchez shares, “Building Futures is a great example of the public and private sectors’ willingness to co-fund workforce programs that target and address sustainable employment solutions for at-risk individuals. We are pleased to offer this life-changing program with support from our funders and implementation partners.”

Building Futures is currently recruiting program participants for the January 2013 session. For enrollment information, please contact Case Manager Aaron Bucane at (262) 695-7890 or at abucane@wctc.edu.