June 13, 2014 at 3:24 p.m.
Three Lakes School awarded $132K grant to train workers of tomorrow
Three Lakes School awarded $132K grant to train workers of tomorrow
By Jamie Taylor-jamie@rivernewsonline.com
Jonathon Barry, Deputy Secretary of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, said the state hopes the Three Lakes fabrication lab is just the first of many in the state.
Barry, along with Assistant Deputy Secretary Dave Anderson, was in Minocqua Wednesday morning at the monthly meeting of the Grow North Board of Directors to learn more about the project and to formally announce the awarding of the grant.
Grow North is a private/public 501(c)(6) organization dedicated to the economic development in Forest, Lincoln, Langlade, Oneida, Vilas Florence, Marinette, and Oconto counties. It partnered with Three Lakes School, the Oneida County Economic Development Corporation, Nicolet College and the employers to write the grant application.
"It's going to train up 44 high school students in advanced manufacturing techniques," Barry said. "My hat is off to all of you for the partnership you have created."
The grant is part of the Wisconsin Fast Forward program that was created by Gov. Scott Walker to help train or retrain Wisconsin workers for in demand jobs, openings that employers are having trouble filling as part of his "Blueprint for Prosperity" program unveiled in January 2014. According to Barry, the proposal enjoyed bipartisan support in the legislature before it was approved.
As part of the program, employers taking part received tax cuts and a $35 million fund was established for Fast Forward grants in three target areas:
• Grants to Wisconsin Technical Colleges for wait list reduction;
• Fund projects that result in certifications for high school students in high demand jobs; and
• Efforts that enhance employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
"The concept for Fast Forward is that it is business-driven; you have to have a business partner in this mix," Barry said. "And that's tough for businesses. It's hard for businesses to define what their employment needs are. And it's been equally hard for the technical colleges to translate that into a curriculum that meets that need. This partnership is critical if the project [Fast Forward)] is going to work."
The Department of Workforce Development is starting the third cycle of awarding grants under the Fast Forward program. Barry said rather than be the old type of unemployment agency, DWD wants to get away from the social work model and more toward a business demand model where the skills of those registered with the system are matched to employer's needs.
"The Job Center of Wisconsin [a branch of DWD] has changed dramatically," Barry said. "We see ourselves as a talent development agency more than anything. Our job is to assist individuals in obtaining employment who need it, and then getting a better job."
Don Sidlowski, executive director of Grow North, said the group has been working to create a foundation of broadband in the area and the Fab Lab is an ideal use for this new infrastructure.
"Fab Lab is one practical way that we can use the underlying technology of broadband, as a way to create jobs" Sidlowski said.
Sidlowski said the goal is to train the workers of tomorrow who are now in grades K-12. He added that Grow North's goal is to have at least one Fab Lab in each of its member counties.
"These kids, as young as K-4, are involved in a program called EIE, Engineering is Elementary," Sidlowski said. "Can you imagine a young person 12 years from now, who has gone through this program? They are going to have such marketable skills that they will be able to impact the job force in northern Wisconsin."
The Fab Lab concept was created at M.I.T. in 2001. The goal was to have fab labs all over the world working together collaboratively. Students in the labs will be trained in all aspects of the trade they're pursuing in a holistic approach.
"M.I.T.'s stated goal when they started this in 2001, and laugh if you want, but they laughed when we said Three Lakes would become the anchor of technology in the Northwoods - which isn't a joke anymore - their stated goal was they want the Star Trek replicator. 'Tea, Earl Grey, hot' remember that? That is just a really fast 3D printer. It's printing the cup and filling it at the same time," Sidlowski said.
Gene Welhoefer, Director of 7-12 Guidance for Three Lakes Schools, explained that the goal of the Fab Lab is not just to increase the skills of the students, but also their ability to create.
"And create without the fear of failure," Welhoefer said. "Who knows what they will be able to dream up and actually produce?"
Jamie Taylor may be reached at jtaylor@lakelandtimes.com.
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