MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A city program aims to connect hundreds of workers with construction jobs in Milwaukee -- and Mayor Tom Barrett highlighted the plan on Monday, June 9th.
Northwestern Mutual is constructing the largest office building in the state, a project that will retain more than 1,000 permanent jobs and add an additional 1,900 office jobs in the coming years.
In conjunction with the tax incremental funding used on the construction project, the company has agreed to employ city residents for at least 40 percent of the construction workforce.
The city’s Workforce Development Program is an effort, funded with revenue from the tax incremental district, that aims to put 350 Milwaukee residents on a career path into the construction trades and place 150 individuals in jobs on the Northwestern Mutual project.
"Making sure that people have jobs where they can support their families -- and coming out of the great recession we know that construction and in particular the very, very bright future we have in construction here in Milwaukee County provides people an opportunity to have those jobs," Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said.
The city has partnered with the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership (WRTP) to lead the Workforce Development Program, and the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board (MAWIB) will play a significant role in the effort.
City residents interested in participating in the Workforce Development Program can contact WRTP/BIG STEP at 414-342-WRTP (9787).