Mid‑State awarded four WAT grants, enabling training for roughly 742 people

Craig Brunsteen told the board the college’s Workforce & Economic Development team had an unusually successful WAT cycle: all four of Mid‑State’s WAT grant applications were funded this year.

"This is the first time we've ever been awarded 100%. All four of the grants I wrote were awarded," Craig said, describing the awards as a significant achievement for the team. He explained the WAT grants come from the Wisconsin Technical College System, where the state sets aside $5 million annually and colleges compete for funding; this year the total ask across colleges was roughly $5.6 million.

Craig summarized the four funded proposals: a manufacturing and lean processes program (automation, electrical/mechanical maintenance, lean Six Sigma), a health‑care incumbent workforce training package (nursing assistant and medical assistant training), a leadership development program (team building, problem solving and supervisory skills), and a targeted training package for a nonprofit partner (wellness, soft skills and Microsoft Office training). Trustees were told the grants reduce training costs for employers — for some projects funding covers roughly half of tuition — and that the college can potentially train about 742 workers under these awards.

Trustees congratulated the grant team; staff said workforce training grants support incumbent workers and employer partners in the district.