A total of $8 million in grant funds is available to support innovative and collaborative employer-led training solutions to benefit skilled and semi-skilled job seekers and incumbent workers through Round 3 of Governor Scott Walker’s Wisconsin Fast Forward (WFF) program.

WFF is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s Office of Skills Development (OSD), which is seeking Wisconsin Fast Forward grant applications in the third round of grant opportunities. Grant applicants can be a single business, a consortium of businesses, or employers in partnership with local workforce and/or economic development organizations. Grant deadlines and funding ranges by industry sectors and occupational areas follow:

• September 23: Manufacturing Occupations; $5,000 to $400,000
• September 30: Construction Trades and Related Occupations & Transportation, Logistics, and Distribution Occupations; $5,000 to $400,000
• October 7: Financial Services Occupations & Information Technology Occupations; $5,000 to $400,000
• October 14: Customer Service Occupations; $5,000 to $400,000
• October 21: Agriculture and Related Occupations & Health Care and Related Occupations; $5,000 to $400,000 & Small Businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees; $5,000 to $50,000

Round 3 grant applications will be available on September 2. For grant program information, visit WisconsinFastForward.com. For additional third round details, visit: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/wff/announcements.htm or email WisconsinFastForward@dwd.wisconsin.gov.

Join the Dane County Business Council for a summer luncheon that will feature a panel presentation on the Baraboo Success Story showcasing how their schools, municipal government, and local companies partnered to benefit high schools grads with great jobs and address a labor shortage facing area companies. You will learn about:

• Fast Forward grants for companies
• Key factors in forming partnerships between schools, industry and municipal leadership
• Successful methods used to form partnerships
• Understanding each other’s world to benefit the vision of economic development
• How to jump start the process for building bridges
• Challenges you will encounter and what to do

The panel presentation includes:

• Dr. Crystal Ritzenthaler, District Administrator, Baraboo Schools
• Lori Mueller, Director of Curriculum & Instruction
• Kim Meyer, Director of HR,Teel Plastics, Inc
• Todd Spencer, CAO, Flambeau, Inc.
• Landis Brozak,CEO, Synergy Metalworks, LLC
• Mike Palm, Mayor of Baraboo
• Scott Jansen, Wisconsin Dept of Workplace Development
• Gene Dalhoff, Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP)

Learn more and register by 8/23.

As relatively advanced economies that nevertheless have further potential for growth, the Czech Republic, Poland and Turkey present ample opportunities for Wisconsin companies looking to expand their exports. These markets are suitable for companies that have previous exporting experience to Europe or Canada. Extensive prior experience is not required.

Recognizing the strategic advantages these markets offer Wisconsin companies looking to expand their exports, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), in partnership with the Council of Great Lakes Governors (CGLG), is planning a Global Trade Venture to these three countries. We hope you will consider joining us and other Wisconsin and regional business leaders for this program.

Wisconsin participants may be eligible for an International Market Access Grant that would cover the venture fee, which includes customized, individual meetings with potential partners, distributors and buyers in these markets.

The Trade Venture will take place November 1-11, 2014. Learn more and register by August 29.

Registration is now open for the 4th annual Governor’s Small Business Summit to be held in Racine on Wednesday, Sept. 10th from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Racine Marriott. With a focus on job creation, Governor Scott Walker and Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch will join with leadership from state Cabinet agencies for a networking opportunity with Wisconsin’s small business community.  

Seating is limited; register now. To register, visit 2014 Governor’s Small Business Summit.

China ranks #2 as a destination for Wisconsin agricultural exports. To access this market, companies need information on navigating regulatory hurdles, finding buyers, and marketing products in the world’s most populous nation.

Join MITA members to hear from Roger Zhang of SMH Shanghai, who will present on the current market for food and agricultural products. Also, learn how a build a strategy for utilizing e-commerce to sell consumer products in China. Mr. Zhang will provide an overview of the market for imported food, current trends, the rising e-commerce sites, Shanghai Free Trade Zone, and opportunities for Wisconsin companies. Joining Mr. Zhang on a panel will be several Chinese food importers from Beijing and Shanghai. They will each give an overview of their company and share their insights on developing market share for American food products in China. Plus, network with a staff writer from one of China’s leading food and culinary publications covering the Wisconsin industry..

This special event is co-hosted by MITA and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Co-sponsors are the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA), Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP) and ME Dey.

Learn more and register.