Home

RWA In Action

Innovation Fund - Project Showcase

It's been just over a year since the first round of funding was released from the WIRED Innovation Fund. 

Are you wondering how some of the WIRED projects have developed? 

Check them out here!   

Employer View of Workforce Needs

On 10/1/09, the RWA hosted two forums in the region to showcase the findings of the two RWA / WIRED commissioned reports regarding demand-side workforce needs.

Lois Quinn, Senior Scientist from UW-Milwaukee, presented the results of the Job Openings Survey.  The survey was conducted in May, 2009 and took a snapshot of the seven-county job opening landscape indicating a grim environment for job hunters, especially for those with less than a high school diploma in entry-level jobs.   The good news was there were real job openings in our region during that period-most notably in healthcare with the highest number of openings. 

Hamilton Galloway, EMSI, presents the methodology behind the Competency Study

Hamilton Galloway, Consulting Manager from Economic Modeling Specialists, Inc.,  presented the findings of their nine-county (our M7 plus two Illinois Counties) study of employer's workforce needs framed win the context of competencies. 

After Hamilton's presenation, Ed Morrison, from Institute for Open Economic Networks, and Linda Fowler, from Regionerate, invited forum participants to join a discussion about how using the KSA vocabulary could bridge the gap in understanding among employers, job seekers, education specialists, and workforce groups. 

To view the powerpoint presentations, click below:

UW-M Job Opening Survey Power Point

Comprehensive Competency Study Power Point 

 To read the full studies, click below: 

1) A regional comprehensive Competency Study

2) The UWM Job Openings Survey  

We'd like your feedback!  Feel free to comment on the studies and direct questions to Pat Adrian, RWA Research Specialist, at 262-695-8047 or padrian@wctc.edu. 

Digital Literacy

Microsoft has launched a number of initiatives aimed to improve the computer skills of the general public within the United States and across the world. Program offerings range from free/low cost software licenses to refurbished hardware to free training and certification testing. RWA is compiling information about these offerings on our Digital Literacy page to enable RWA partners to benefit from these programs.

Regional Workforce Alliance

The Regional Workforce Alliance (RWA) is a collaboration of organizations representing workforce development, economic development and education across southeastern Wisconsin.  Led by the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board, the Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington Workforce Development Board and the Southeast Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, the Alliance invests in strategies to build the skilled workforce that Milwaukee-area businesses need to compete in today’s global economy. Many of the initiatives of this group are supported by funds awarded by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s Growing Regional Opportunities in Wisconsin (GROW) grant.

The RWA is leading the implementation of the WIRED grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.  The Milwaukee 7, as the region’s economic development force, is also involved in the initiative.

To read about how the RWA is specifically addressing the talent development network needs, please read the Strategic Overview:

 RWA Strategic Overview

 RWA Status Update 5.28.09

Priority Project Task Force Descriptions

Asset Map

The map illustrates the assets that encompass the talent development network for the Milwaukee 7 region. 

View Larger Map

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"This workforce solution was funded by a grant awarded under Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The solution was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This solution is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner."