FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 8, 2009
Jill Bakken
Bakken.Jill@AFT-Wisconsin.org
608-770-0498

Madison, Wis. – Earlier today, several members of Wisconsin’s technical college communities gathered in a show of support for the Wisconsin Jobs Initiative, a legislative proposal introduced by Representative Cory Mason (D-Racine).

The Wisconsin Jobs Initiative is a program that would grow Wisconsin’s economy by reinvesting in the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) while leveraging federal matching funds, increasing financial aid to students in need, awarding grants to businesses to modernize and upgrade their facilities and enhancing Wisconsin’s Angel Investment Tax Credit Program to support qualified new business ventures.

According to AFT-Wisconsin President Bryan Kennedy, the need for reinvestment in WTCS is greater than ever before. “Wisconsin’s technical colleges have always played an important role in developing our state’s workforce; but in these extraordinary economic times, our technical colleges serve as nothing short of lifelines for dislocated workers. The Wisconsin Jobs Initiative provides the technical colleges the resources needed to train Wisconsin’s workers, grow our vital human resources and keep Wisconsin competitive.”

Kennedy’s views are substantiated by recent reports indicating that the fastest-growing job sectors throughout the nation will require an Associates’ Degree. Although enrollment percentages have increased by double-digits in recent years, thousands of students remain waitlisted and in need of financial aid.

According to Brent Brigson, a counselor at Western Technical College, professionals throughout WTC have the skills to train Wisconsin’s workers, but lack the resources. “Everyone at Western is very sensitive to the needs of our dislocated workers. Our Counselors, Advisors, Specialists, Faculty, remedial folks and others are well positioned to help get these individuals where they need to go; however, we are facing staggering budget cuts at Western that threaten our ability to provide the vital services that our
students need.”

Kennedy views the Wisconsin Jobs Initiative as a priority for AFT-Wisconsin. “On behalf of the 17,000 professional public employees represented by AFT-Wisconsin, I applaud Rep. Mason for his work on this common-sense initiative. I look forward to working with him and his colleagues in the Wisconsin State Legislature to see this proposal become a reality.”