Bolstering Workforce Needs
Funding for workforce development is vital for our state. This budget made investments in programs like Youth Apprenticeship, healthcare training grants, and CDL training grants. These allotments aid the state in responding to the workforce needs of both today and the future.
This budget included $6M for Youth Apprenticeship Grants, a work-based learning program for high school juniors and seniors that combines mentored employment in a career field of interest with related instruction to augment what is learned on the job. It also allocated $250,000 annually for the Commercial Driver Training (CDL) grant program to help grantees develop innovative solutions that meet workforce needs for this in-demand occupation. Moreover, it included $500,000 for grants to support training in the health care industry portion of the Wisconsin Fast Forward program, and $581,000 for tuition reimbursement payments in the Early College Credit Program.
Notably, the Universities of Wisconsin budget contained $27M for merit-based compensation to attract faculty in high-demand fields of study, such as engineering and nursing, aimed at addressing workforce needs in critical sectors. The higher education budget also provided a 2.5% base increase in general aid to technical colleges to maintain their vital role in adaptively and amenably responding to workforce challenges in communities across the state.
2025 First Responder of the Year
I am now accepting nominations for the 2025 First Responder of the Year Award! If you know any deserving first responders in the 4th Assembly District, please consider submitting a nomination on their behalf before the deadline on September 19, 2025.
This is a terrific opportunity to honor a deserving member of the community, including police and sheriff officers, firefighters (paid and volunteer), and EMS personnel (paramedics/EMTs/volunteer first responders).
Nominations can be predicated on a variety of things, including a specific heroic action, a significant professional achievement, the person’s body of work over time, something special they do for the community relating to their work, and/or their length of service.
Fill out the nomination form by clicking the image below and send it to my office via mail or email for submission.
Happy Labor Day
Happy Labor Day to the hardworking men and women of Wisconsin and across our great nation. On Monday, we celebrate the contributions of American workers who have shaped this country with their skills and persistence. Whether you’re on the front lines or behind the scenes, you are the backbone of our communities and families, and we owe you ample recognition. Thank you for all you do, and enjoy this well deserved day of rest and honor.
Follow Along on Facebook
Want to hear more about what’s going on in Madison and the district? Follow my Facebook page for weekly updates and to learn more about bills, events, and efforts I’m involved in. Find my Facebook page here: facebook.com/RepSteffen/.
Contact Me
My office is always available to help with any state-related questions or concerns you may have. You can reach my office at (608) 237-9104, or email me at Rep.Steffen@legis.wisconsin.
