Sauk Prairie School District awarded $2.4 million grant to help students get a leg up in working world

The Sauk Prairie School District was awarded a $2.4 million workforce innovation grant from the State of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation last week. The grant focuses on advanced manufacturing, agri-science, and healthcare careers. Deputy Secretary Sam Rikkers presented the grant to the district on December 15th on behalf of Secretary Missy Hughes and Governor Tony Evers at Sauk Prairie High School. According to the district, the grant will help purchase advanced equipment, construct a larger, modern greenhouse, equip a new medical careers classroom, and further renovate the metals and woods classrooms.  “The goal,” says the District, “is to help address the workforce needs of our region’s advanced manufacturers, agricultural science employers, and healthcare providers. This project will lead to sustainable training for apprentices, current students, and current employees by bringing employers into the school building and students into the region’s employers.” The District continued, “Our incredible partners helped make this happen including Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce, McFarlane Manufacturing Co., United Cooperative, Milwaukee Valve, American Made Machining, Prime Components, Sauk Prairie Healthcare, and Maplewood of Sauk Prairie.” In July, Governor Evers announced the state would be awarding up to $100 million in grants to communities and nonprofits creating novel solutions to address local workforce problems. The Workforce Innovation grants are administered by WEDC, Department of Workforce Development and the Department of Administration.  Recognizing that different parts of the state face different workforce challenges, nearly $60 million are being awarded this week to 12 local and regional collaborations with innovative plans to leverage existing infrastructure for post-pandemic workforce solutions. The program looks at all aspects of workforce development making efforts to provide training, housing, health care child care and more eligible for funding to help businesses find workers and workers find high quality, family sustaining jobs. More information about the first round of awards can be found here. Funding for the initiative comes from the federal American Rescue Plan.