We’re working every day to build a Wisconsin where everyone who wants a job can find a job. One of the most important ways we’re doing that is by investing in worker training programs, such as dual enrollment and Project SEARCH.

When we say we want everyone who wants a job to find a job, we do mean everyone. Our efforts focus on removing barriers to employment for the citizens of our state, especially those who might not have the opportunity to receive practical skills training otherwise, including individuals with disabilities.

We know Wisconsin’s workers with disabilities possess a unique set of abilities and a diverse set of strengths and skills that not only benefit their employers but their communities as well.

In 2014, we launched the year of A Better Bottom Line to empower and support individuals with disabilities who seek to join our workforce.

Today, a record 9,507 individuals with disabilities have reached their employment goals during the first two full federal fiscal years since we launched A Better Bottom Line.

This is an incredible accomplishment and indicates Wisconsin businesses know hiring workers with disabilities and helping them develop the practical skills necessary to thrive in the workplace improves their bottom line and spurs economic growth.

We will continue to invest in programs like Project SEARCH, which helps to break down barriers to employment and allows workers with disabilities gain valuable knowledge and experience. Ultimately, this enables them to contribute to the economy and earn a competitive wage, all while gaining confidence and marketable skills in the process.

Wisconsin is strong – we’ve gone from a $3.6 billion budget deficit when we took office in 2011 to ending Fiscal Year 2016 with a positive balance of $313 million. Not to mention our unemployment rate is the lowest we’ve seen in 15 years, and the percentage of people working throughout Wisconsin is one of the highest in the nation.

When more people in our state are working, we see our economy improve.

To ensure the next generation of Wisconsin’s workers are prepared to enter our workforce, we must provide them with the skills and training they need to succeed today. And that starts in high school with programs like Youth Apprenticeship (YA) and the Fab Labs Grant Program, and continues by helping our students and their families prepare for the financial burden of higher education.

We’ve declared today as College Goal Wisconsin Day throughout the state as part of our ongoing efforts to make sure Wisconsin students and families are aware of higher education costs before they start college, so they are better able to plan for the educational path that is best for them.

Last spring, we signed our College Affordability Legislative Package into law, which increased funds to allow the Wisconsin Technical College System Board and University of Wisconsin Board of Regents to award emergency grants to students facing unexpected financial hardship. It also dedicated staff within the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) to focus on connecting students with internships and made college and student debt costs more transparent.

Another useful resource is the Student Debt Loan Debt Specialist at the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), who works with families to inform them of the options they have when it comes to student loan repayment and refinancing options.

College Goal Wisconsin is a statewide event that provides free information and assistance to families filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, which is a required form for students seeking financial assistance, such as grants and loans.

Starting today, College Goal Wisconsin is hosting 44 events at 35 different sites across Wisconsin as an opportunity for low-income high school seniors and their families to learn more about the financial aid application process.

We’re proud to highlight these efforts today by declaring College Goal Wisconsin Day, and we encourage everyone to check out the College Goal website below for more information or to find an event near you.