10/13Gov. Evers, DWD Announce $6.6 Million in New Grants to Train Over 3,800 Wisconsin Workers in Advanced Manufacturing and AI

MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD), today kicked off announ cing $6.6 million in grants to 8 4 employers to train 3,823 Wisconsin workers through the Wisconsin Training for Resilient Advanced Industry Needs ( WisTRAIN ) employer grant program. As announced during Gov. Evers' 2026 State of the State address, the new WisTRAIN program is supp orted by federal funding secured by the Evers Administration to help deliver employer-driven, occupational skills training focused on advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence (AI).

" Here in Wisconsin, we ' re ensuring our state can continue to compete and be a leader in new and innovative industries, and a big part of that work is investing in workforce training to prepare our workforce for the future , " said Gov. Evers. " M aking sure Wisconsin is prepared to create jobs for the future and meet the rapidly evolving needs of a 21st-century economy must be a top priority . I'm proud to get these funds out the door to help train Wiscons inites across the state in these in-demand, fast-growing industries. "

Among the dozens of employers supported through WisTRAIN are an ice cream manufacturer in Dane County and a precision machining firm in Milwaukee County that will both train their employees to use advanced manufacturing equipment, as well as a marine engine manufacturer in Fond Du Lac County, a construction products company in Marathon County, and a consortium of Tribal-owned construction companies that will all upskill and train employees to integrate AI into their work. More information regarding the grants and awardees is available below.

"We're excited for the possibilities that these projects provide to Wisconsin employers and workers to gain new skills to succeed in emerging and high-demand industries like advanced manufacturing," said DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek. "The WisTRAI N grants will boost our state's economic competitiveness and help ensure all Wisconsin workers can benefit from a dynamic, growing economy."

WisTRAIN builds on the success of Gov. Evers' Workforce Solutions Initiative , w hich, to date, has collectively served WisTRAIN employer grant program also aligns with recommendations by the Governor's Task Force on Workforce and Artificial Intelligence , which was created by Gov. Evers in 2023 to study how AI will transform business, education, and other key sectors of the state economy.

Projects will train workers for the future by addressing industry shifts resulting from technological advances, expanding access to industry-recognized credentials, supporting digital equity and literacy, and increasing employer-education partnerships. These projects will also ensure that employers remain competitive as the economy and workplaces adapt to new technologies . More information on the WisTRAIN employer grant program can be found on DWD's WisTRAIN webpage .

Matenaer Corporation, Washington County | $239,008

Training 156 incumbent and four new employees to implement the Plex UX advanced smart manufacturing platform through a cascading train-the-trainer model.

MetalTek International Inc. Wisconsin Centrifugal Division, Waukesha County | $41,984

Training 60 incumbent and 20 new employees, including three youth apprentices, at its Wisconsin Centrifugal Division to use a new CNC training simulator and classroom lathe that align with real-world production equipment.

Microbial Discovery Group LLC, Milwaukee County | $168,000

Training 30 incumbent and five new employees in the fermentation, engineering, maintenance, and process-development teams in advanced fermentation operations, manufacturing analytics, AI-enabled manufacturing, manufacturing execution system, and project management.

Midwest Engineered Systems Inc., Waukesha County | $80,000

Providing hands-on training to five new hires in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining, precision inspection, and supervised parts manufacturing.

ATACO Steel Products Corporation, Ozaukee County | $25,884

Training three incumbent welders in FANUC robotic welding programming and supporting one incumbent weld engineer to complete coursework toward an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology -accredited bachelor ' s degree in electronic systems engineering technology.

Automation Solutions LLC, Washington County | $16,880

Training three current employees in advanced software development covering modern software engineering practices, database technologies, cloud-connected systems, cybersecurity fundamentals, and industrial data integration.

Benz Metal Products Inc., Waukesha County | $168,477

Training four incumbent employees and two new hires in electrical systems, motor controls, and industrial troubleshooting.

Cream City Cyber LLC, Milwaukee County | $79,200

Training three incumbent employees and nine new hires through a 12-week Forward Deployed Academy covering governance, risk and compliance, cloud security benchmarking, and AI-informed risk practices.

Develop America Inc., Milwaukee County | $13,200

Training for two incumbent employees in generative AI, prompt engineering, workflow automation, and responsible AI governance in partnership with AYR .

Dynamic Tool Corporation, Waukesha County | $330,000

Robotics training for three controls engineers and a controls engineering manager , combining formal robotics courses, simulation-based training, and structured on-the-job training in programming, integration, troubleshooting, and commissioning.

Georgia-Pacific LLC, Sheboygan County | $39,600

Training two incumbent and four new maintenance technicians in digital documentation and knowledge management, AI-powered knowledge platforms, and structured troubleshooting methodologies in partnership with Lakeshore Technical College.

HellermannTyton Corporation, Milwaukee County | $180,000

Training 45 incumbent and five new employees through the gener8tor Skills Accelerator workforce development partnership in foundational AI literacy, tool proficiency , and an employer-specific capstone project.

Heraeus Electro-Nite Co. LLC, Waukesha County | $84,817

Training one incumbent and one new employee as AI business training specialist s to build skills in AI foundations, generative AI tools, prompt engineering, workflow automation, and responsible AI use through hands-on labs and a capstone project.

Midwest Precision Molding Inc., Walworth County | $6,711

Training 14 incumbent and eight new employees to apply AI to metal stamping, forming, welding, and machining automation, targeting operators, production management, and quality control through classroom, virtual, and hands-on sessions.

Old World Creamery LLC, Sheboygan County | $38,080

Training 25 incumbent and three new employees to serve as on-site experts and technology champions supporting digital manufacturing tools, automation troubleshooting, and food-safety compliance.

Palmer Hamilton LLC, Walworth County | $50,000

Occupational skills training for 25 incumbent employees in manufacturing data analysis, digital workflow improvement, automation awareness, process control, and industrial cybersecurity awareness.

Performance Coatings LLC, Waukesha County | $51,548

Training nine incumbent and three new employees in Fulcrum AI enterprise resource planning core proficiency , AI-enabled manufacturing and Mastercam computer - aided manufacturing training, and role-specific advanced machining and cross-training.

Professional Power Products Inc., Walworth County | $26,080

Training 18 incumbent and two new employees in generative AI, prompting, data analysis, and manufacturing applications such as inventory optimization and predictive maintenance through the U W's AI Essentials Certificate and customized Waukesha County Technical College Applied AI Lab workshops.

Sargento Cheese Inc., Sheboygan County | $312,699

On-the-job training for 126 incumbent workers using vendor trainers and experts as it relocates manufacturing to a new 384,000-square-foot facility with new integrated equipment and enhanced ergonomics.

Wisconsin Dairy Distributing LLC, Dodge County | $38,080

Structured professional development to 14 current employees in leadership, project management, sales effectiveness, customer service, workplace safety, and technology skills:

Badger Truck Refrigeration Inc., Eau Claire County | $95,679

Training six incumbent IT security employees in generative AI and large language model security through the SANS Institute.

Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company Inc., Dane County | $72,800

Training 20 incumbent employees to support its rollout of the digital manufacturing systems Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform, and an ASU Online engineering degree for one employee.

DSG Outerwear LLC, Dane County | $66,000

Training for 10 incumbent employees in AI-driven tools for product design, 3D rendering , customer service, and content creation.

Graber Manufacturing Inc. ( Madrax and Thomas Steele), Dane County | $151,035

Plastic Ingenuity Inc., Dane County | $28,850

Machining skills training for four incumbent and six new employees in partnership with Madison College, covering blueprint reading, precision metrology, CNC setup, G-code programming, and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, with a capstone project machining a finished part to print and tolerance.

Prent Corporation, Rock County | $90,972

Training 35 incumbent and seven new employees in robotics, digital twins, and responsible AI implementation, including advanced robotics training for engineers and a simulated digital twin environment where employees practice troubleshooting and programming without interrupting live production.

Quartz Health Solutions Inc., Dane County | $90,000

Training 25 incumbent employees through the gener8tor Generative AI Skilling program in foundational AI literacy, tool proficiency , and an organization-specific capstone project.

Royle Printing Co., Dane County | $297,000

Training 20 incumbent and 10 new employees as on-site experts and technology champions in digital operations, automation systems, process improvement, and process cheese manufacturing, including preventive controls qualified individual certification and a process cheesemaking short course.

Springs Window Fashions LLC, Dane County | $8,000

Training eight incumbent and two new employees on data-informed decision-making, process definition, technology evaluation, and responsible AI adoption delivered by outside training providers.

Teel Plastics LLC, Sauk County | $43,060

Training 52 incumbent employees through 19 courses in AI, data analytics, process automation, and advanced digital technologies delivered through employer-education partnerships including the UW-Madison School of Business and InterPro programs, Madison College, and specialized technology vendors. One trainee will complete the final two semesters of a maintenance apprenticeship.

Universal Presentation Concepts Inc., Dane County | $75,960

Training 30 incumbent and 13 new employees as on-site experts and technology champions in digital operations, automation, and process cheese manufacturing , including preventive controls qualified individual certification and a cheese making short course.

City of Oshkosh, Winnebago County | $327,360

Training 52 incumbent employees and 10 new hires in partnership to build skills in data literacy, digital workflow improvement, responsible AI use, and change management.

Element Creative LLC, Brown County | $7,999

Training for 34 employees in data-informed decision-making, process definition, technology evaluation, and responsible AI adoption.

Fincantieri Marine Group LLC, Brown County | $232,788

Training two incumbent machinists in automation with cobots and robots, CNC machining programming, CAD/CAM systems, blueprint interpretation, and process development delivered through on-the-job instruction and mentoring by two experienced engineering employees.

Hatco Corporation, Door County | $17,600

Demand flow technology training to 18 incumbent workers, a hands-on, instructor-led program teaching supervisors, engineers, and production support staff how to design and manage production lines based on customer demand.

Mercury Marine, Fond du Lac County | $330,000

Winsert LLC, Marinette County | $188,480
Training 75 incumbent and 25 new employees across the company in skilled trades development, AI literacy, robotics and automation, digital twins, cybersecurity, and leadership development.

Consortium: Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance Inc.
Training 111 incumbent workers at 20 manufacturers through hands-on AI implementation training, change-management training, and a technical college-based predictive maintenance course:

Apogee Wausau Group Inc., Marathon County | $320,040

Training 50 incumbent workers in an AI training program through Northcentral Technical College's Central Wisconsin AI Center and AI Academy through SmarterX .

REI Engineering Inc., Marathon County | $158,400

Training 45 incumbent and 10 new employees in AI tools including Microsoft Copilot and Claude, digital collaboration, cybersecurity, and data governance through a longstanding employer-education partnership with Northcentral Technical College.

Rice Lake Weighing Systems Inc., Barron County | $253,750

Training to 280 incumbent and 20 new employees in industrial robotics, CNC machining, power industrial vehicles, lean manufacturing tools, and frontline leadership development.

Rocket Industrial Inc., Marathon County | $21,420
Providing AI training for 95 incumbent and seven new employees in all 16 departments through a three-part AI center of excellence.

Washburn Iron Works Inc., Bayfield County | $256,000
Training 35 incumbent and five new employees in all departments on a proprietary, first-of-its-kind AI-integrated enterprise resource planning system built for the foundry industry.

Wisconsin is one of 14 states that received an Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to prepare workers for jobs in high-demand and emerging industries.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND ON THE EVERS ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORTS TO BUILD A 21ST-CENTURY WORKFORCE TO SUPPORT A 21ST-CENTURY ECONOMY

Gov. Evers declared 2024 the Year of the Worker in Wisconsin to highlight the need to address the state's generational workforce challenges and promote new efforts by the Evers Administration to build a workforce prepared to meet the needs of a 21st-century economy. This included creating the Governor's Task Force on Workforce and Artificial Intelligence and the Governor's Task Force on the Healthcare Workforce, launching the state's first teacher apprenticeship pilot program, establishing the Office of Employee Engagement and Retention for the state of Wisconsin workforce, and more.

Gov. Evers' efforts to bolster Wisconsin's workforce have extended well beyond 2024 the Year of the Worker. In fact, in 2021, Gov. Evers launched the state's Workforce Solutions Initiative, which works to connect unemployed or underemployed workers with new opportunities while also incentivizing innovative solutions to regional workforce challenges. Included in Gov. Evers' Workforce Solutions Initiative were three innovative programs: the Workforce Innovation Grant Program, the Workforce Advancement Initiative, and the Worker Connection Program. To date, programs included in the governor's Workforce Solutions Initiative have collectively served over Wisconsinites across the state.

Additionally, this April, Gov. Evers kicked off "National Apprenticeship Week " in Wisconsin by celebrating that, for the fifth year in a row, Wisconsin's Youth Apprenticeship program for high school students saw record-high enrollment. During the 2025-26 school year, a record 12,141 students enrolled in the program, a seven percent increase from the prior year. This is on top of four consecutive yearsof record-high enrollment in the state's Registered Apprenticeship Program.

Gov. Evers has also emphasized that Wisconsin is uniquely positioned to tap into the potential of AI and advanced manufacturing sectors, both of which offer opportunities to advance job equity and economic opportunity in communities across the state. Prior to creating the WisTRAIN program to help deliver employer-driven, occupational skills training focused on advanced manufacturing and AI, in 2023, Gov. Evers signedExecutive Order #211, creating the Governor's Task Force on Workforce and Artificial Intelligence, which he tasked with studying how AI will transform business, education, and other key sectors of the state economy.

Over the course of a year, the task force worked to devise a n action plan, which offers guiding principles to promote ethical decision-making related to AI and the workforce, advance equitable access to AI technology and training, and ensure that workers are represented in AI investments to strengthen the state's economy. With a focus on policies related to education, government, workforce development, and economic development, the policy proposals reflect the need to: Read more about Gov. Evers and the Evers Administration's efforts to bolster Wisconsin ' s 21st-century workforce to support a 21st-century economy .