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Much of the infrastructure of our region’s economy will be rebuilt in the coming years, from highways and sewer lines to power plants, utility lines, and fiber optic networks. These growing needs and investments from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act give us a unique opportunity to develop a new generation of skilled craft workers.

 

Every year, various construction training programs in Milwaukee train hundreds of individuals. Particular effort is being placed on increasing minority participation, and the number of African American apprentices increased by 80 percent from 2005 to 2007. Despite this increase, the total number of African American apprentices in 2007 was only 219, or 5 percent of all apprentices: 103 out of 113 construction companies had no African American apprentices [1].



 


 
 
 

The Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership (WRTP) was chosen as the first Workforce Partnership for the Alliance’s work in the construction sector. WRTP provides a diverse pool of qualified workers for skilled trades. Between 2004 and 2006 it enrolled 900 community residents, 750 of whom were placed in jobs earning above $14.50 per hour plus benefits. 

 

Although WRTP has been successful at getting people into and through their construction training programs, there have been challenges in getting these trainees into apprenticeships with construction firms, limiting the workers’ success in the field.

 

As the intermediary organization for construction trades, WRTP works with the Alliance to inform them of and address barriers to entry. With the support of the Alliance and other partners, WRTP will improve the ratio of trainees into apprenticeships.

 

The Alliance has also convened a Construction Sector Committee to address specific issues experienced by WRTP and other training providers.




 

[1] NAACP Milwaukee Branch and UWM Employment and Training Institute, Report Card on African American and Minority Participation in Construction Trade Apprenticeships in the Milwaukee Area: A Two-Year Progress Report, April 2008.