Madison, WI – Following a competitive process, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin selected the Wisconsin Broadband Workforce Coalition to lead workforce development planning efforts for the more than $1 billion broadband infrastructure investment coming to Wisconsin.

The coalition will be led by Josh Morby and executives from WRTP | BIG STEP, a nationally recognized workforce development intermediary that provides training and supportive services to help individuals from low-income and underserved communities gain access to family-sustaining careers. 

The coalition, which includes leadership from all 11 of Wisconsin’s local workforce development boards, brings together dozens of state and national partners that include employers, education/training providers and untapped pipelines of talent. 

“We’ve been working on behalf of our members for months to draw attention to the importance of supporting workforce development efforts for the broadband infrastructure investments coming,” said Josh Morby of the Wisconsin Broadband Workforce Coalition. “This initial funding from the PSC is a step in the right direction but ultimately not enough.”

“Funding for workforce development efforts that support broadband expansion should reflect the priorities states have in delivering on the federal government’s once in a generation infrastructure investment,” said Lindsay Blumer President and CEO of WRTP | BIG STEP.

“We must have a trained workforce to do the work. Without the workers, none of this happens. The success of the entire broadband investment rests on the shoulders of the workforce needed to do the work,” said Morby. 

“Supporting workforce development efforts is essential to success. We will continue our efforts to develop state coalitions like the one in Wisconsin to bring employers, training providers and pipelines of talent together to advocate for the importance of workforce development funding and collaboration around broadband expansion efforts.”

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