2. News Room

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
CONTACT: DWD Communications, 608-266-2722
On the Web: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/news/
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WIWorkforce
On Twitter: @WIWorkforce

DWD Assistant Deputy Secretary Dernbach Highlights Youth Apprenticeship Program, Touts Workforce Training Efforts in Central Wisconsin

Dernbach delivers remarks at YA Conference in Wisconsin Rapids, visits Marathon Co. Job Center in Wausau

MADISON – Today, Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Assistant Deputy Secretary BJ Dernbach attended and delivered remarks at the 2018 Youth Apprenticeship (YA) Conference at Hotel Mead and Conference Center in Wisconsin Rapids before visiting with staff and job seekers and touring the Marathon County Job Center in Wausau to highlight the state's efforts to connect job seekers with the skills needed to acquire one of thousands of family supporting career opportunities that are, and will become available in Wisconsin.

In Wisconsin Rapids, Assistant Deputy Secretary Dernbach highlighted Governor Walker's historic investment in the state's premier school-to-work learning program. Last summer, Governor Walker announced a record $3.9 million in funding for the program in the 2017-2018 school year, which resulted in 4,035 enrollees from 353 school districts working at 2,845 employers. The estimated income of these students over the course of the program year is $17.5 million. The number of student enrollees and participating businesses are also new program records.

"The impact of this program cannot be understated – the YA program allows students to "earn while they learn," and exposes them to alternative career paths available in their own community," Assistant Deputy Secretary Dernbach said. "With one of the nation's leading economies, and thousands of good-paying career opportunities available throughout the state, under Governor Walker, our efforts to train and retain our talented future workforce will continue to be a top priority."

This afternoon, Assistant Deputy Secretary BJ Dernbach visited the Marathon County Job Center to highlight DWD's efforts to connect job seekers to jobs in Wausau and throughout the state. One of over 50 job centers located throughout the state, the Marathon County Job Center and their staff specialize in providing assistance to job seekers in the form of resume writing and interview preparation assistance, job referrals and more. Additionally, staff are able to provide information to job seekers about the numerous job training programs available, including Youth and Registered Apprenticeship and training opportunities funded by the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act. Staff are also available to help job seekers register and utilize the JobCenterofWisconsin.com website, where over 90,000 employment opportunities are currently available.

Conversely, staff are also trained to provide assistance to businesses in finding qualified workers for open positions and also provide information on employment based training programs like Governor Walker's flagship Wisconsin Fast Forward Worker Training Grant program and the new Internship Coordination program. Information for both can be found online at WisconsinFastForward.com and InternshipWisconsin.com.

More information on DWD programs can be found online