Health Care Employers Encouraged to Apply for Wisconsin Fast Forward Training Grants

MADISON – The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced today that a new round of grant funding is available to Wisconsin’s health care sector employers to help train workers and fill critical workforce needs. The $2.25 million in grant funds are available through the Wisconsin Fast Forward (WFF) program to develop and implement a strategic industry partnership program for high-demand health sciences, health care, and related occupations.

Governor Evers secured $250,000 in funding for this program during each year of the biennium in the biennial budget to address Wisconsin’s health care worker shortage. An additional $2 million for this opportunity is available through the Wisconsin Fast Forward standard grant program.

“Wisconsin’s healthcare industry has long struggled to attract and retain qualified healthcare workers to provide the essential care that our families, friends, and loved ones rely on. My administration has made it a priority to address Wisconsin’s workforce shortages, and increasing access to healthcare workforce training is a surefire way to help fill in the gaps,” said Gov. Evers. “From creating the Governor’s Task Force on the Healthcare Workforce to providing these grants to support employers and partners so that they can offer high-quality training to bring more folks into the healthcare profession, we’re working to ensure our healthcare workforce has the support, resources, and tools needed to keep Wisconsin healthy and meet the needs of the 21st Century.”

Awards ranging from $5,000 to $400,000 will be used to reimburse health care employers for the cost of developing trainings that bring together strategic industry partners. These may include nonprofits, community-based organizations, two- and four-year higher education institutions, workforce development boards, Tribal governments or appointees , local governments, state, regional, or local economic development entities, labor unions, industry associations, apprenticeship programs or sponsors, training providers, and other partners.

“Making up 15.3% of the state’s employment, the health care and social assistance sector is an integral component of Wisconsin’s workforce that is projected to grow in the coming years as our population ages and demand for highly skilled, qualified health care professionals increases,” said DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek. “This funding supports strategic collaboration between employers and community partners to help address health care workforce shortages and support skilling-up health care workers in Wisconsin . Without a strong health care workforce, we cannot meet the health needs of our community to grow and thrive.”

Strategic industry partnerships for this grant should include at least four project partners and must include at least one employment placement partner. It is anticipated that the relationships developed through WFF-funded training programs will continue to flourish after the grant has ended. A skilled workforce is vital to economic development and community growth in Wisconsin. A funding or in-kind match of 50% of the amount of the grant award is required.

Applications must be submitted by 3 p.m. CST on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026.

Under the leadership of Governor Tony Evers, DWD is investing millions of dollars into bolstering the health care workforce across the state through programs such as Wisconsin Fast Forward, as well as Youth and Registered Apprenticeship, Career Pathways, Project SEARCH, and $14.6 million in Workforce Innovation Grants, part of the Evers administration’s groundbreaking $158 million Workforce Solutions Initiative.

About Wisconsin Fast Forward Program

Launched in 2013, the Wisconsin Fast Forward grant program supports employers as they seek to attract, train, and retain a highly skilled workforce. This strategic investment by Governor Evers is sustaining Wisconsin’s economy and strengthening our state’s workforce now and into the future. There is broad support for this successful program and funding levels were maintained in the latest biennial budget, as well as additional funding to support health care workforce training.

Previous Fast Forward grant projects that serve the health care sector included training for positions at hospitals, senior living communities, diagnostic firms, ambulance service, and a medical coding business.

Find additional information on how to apply on the Wisconsin Fast Forward Program website.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.