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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 

Feb. 18, 2026

CommunicationsOffice@DWD.Wisconsin.gov

ICYMI: Gov. Evers Announces Wisconsin Won $7.3 Million to Fund New Workforce Training Grants for Advanced Manufacturing and AI Sectors

Federal Funds will Address Workforce Gaps in High-Growth Industries

MADISON – In his Feb. 17 State of the State address, Gov. Tony Evers announced the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has received $7.3 million in competitive grant funding to build workforce skills in advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence (AI). Wisconsin is one of 14 states awarded an Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to prepare workers for jobs in high-demand and emerging industries.

DWD will launch the Wisconsin Training for Resilient Advanced Industry Needs (WisTRAIN) employer grant program with the funds to deliver employer-driven, occupational skills training focused on advanced manufacturing and AI. The project builds on the success of Gov. Tony Evers' Workforce Solutions Initiative in supporting local and regional workforce training programs and aligns with recommendations by the Governor's Task Force on Workforce and Artificial Intelligence.

WisTRAIN will fund worker training programs, including apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, that equip Wisconsin’s workforce with the skills necessary to meet rapidly evolving needs. WisTRAIN grant applications are anticipated to open in May 2026 for eligible employers statewide that engage in advanced manufacturing and AI applications such as data analytics, cybersecurity, predictive maintenance, and robotics.

"We're excited for the opportunity that this grant brings to Wisconsin employers, offering resources to train workers for the in-demand, high-technology jobs that are already reshaping how we work," said DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek. "WisTRAIN grants will boost our state's economic competitiveness and help ensure all Wisconsinites, including workers, employers, and job seekers, benefit from a dynamic, growing economy that increases efficiency with the adoption of new technology.”

Wisconsin's future is being reshaped by advances in AI and advanced manufacturing technologies, which represent fields that align with the fastest growing occupational groups in the state – computer and mathematical, and architecture and engineering. In addition, manufacturing remains one of the state's largest employment sectors, representing nearly one in six jobs and contributing more than $65 billion to the annual national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

While projections signal rapid growth in technical fields, employer surveys highlight skill shortages among incumbent workers and job seekers. Thanks to this investment, WisTRAIN will provide coordinated training to meet employer-identified needs and help Wisconsin's workers advance to the next level in the digital age.

ABOUT DWD

Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development efficiently delivers effective and inclusive services to meet Wisconsin's diverse workforce needs now and for the future. The department advocates for and invests in the protection and economic advancement of all Wisconsin workers, employers, and job seekers through six divisions – Employment and Training, Vocational Rehabilitation, Unemployment Insurance, Equal Rights, Worker's Compensation, and Administrative Services. To keep up with DWD announcements and information, sign up for news releases and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) WIOA Dislocated Worker National Reserve Demonstration Grants Award No. 25A60IN000013-01-00, awarded to DWD by the U.S. Department of Labor. A total of $7.3 million, or 100 percent of this project is financed by federal funds, and $0, or 0 percent is being funded by other sources.

This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)'s, Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of DOL. DOL 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 product is copyrighted by the institution that created it.