Governor Scott Walker visits Gateway’s SC Johnson integrated
Manufacturing and Engineering Technology Center
Governor Scott Walker chose Gateway’s SC Johnson integrated Manufacturing and Engineering Technology Center in Sturtevant today as a site to promote his new workforce initiative, noting that the type of advanced manufacturing training that goes on at the center fuels business and economic growth.
Walker promoted Act 139, which provides a $35.4 million increase to the Wisconsin Fast Forward program to be used to provide workforce training grants to technical colleges, among other initiatives. He called Gateway relevant to students, employers and the communities it serves, helping to train workers in those high skilled manufacturing areas which are in need of workers.
“When I talk to employers, they say that for us to continue to grow is to fill not only the positions of today, but also for tomorrow,” Walker said.
The additional funds of Act 139 will be used to provide workforce training grants to technical colleges, grants for collaborative projects among school districts, technical colleges, and businesses, as well as grants to enhance employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
“Targeted investments in worker training will develop the highly-technical, dependable workforce Wisconsin is known for,” Governor Walker said. “The economy is continuing to improve and businesses are expanding and hiring, but they need to have skilled workers to fill in-demand positions.
“The Wisconsin Fast Forward program will ensure job seekers are adequately trained to be able to jump into the workforce when an opportunity comes along.”
Walker’s speech was given in Tarnowski Hall of the SC Johnson iMET Center, a facility which features advanced manufacturing equipment and the only flexible manufacturing training center in the region.
