Quest DWG projects advance the department's promise to create high-quality jobs and a skilled workforce and reflect the administration's commitment to providing opportunities for all workers to…

Quest DWG projects advance the department's promise to create high-quality jobs and a skilled workforce and reflect the administration's commitment to providing opportunities for all workers to overcome the employment, economic, and health effects of the covid-19 pandemic. The grants enable individuals adversely affected by the pandemic and the social and economic inequities that the pandemic exacerbated to enter, return to, or advance in high-quality jobs in growth industries such as infrastructure, environment and climate, the care economy, and other critical sectors. Quest dwgs also address business and industry needs for a resilient and skilled workforce. Activities performed employment and training activities include wraparound career and supportive services for eligible individuals seeking training in early childhood and k-12 education, including expanded registered apprenticeship, entrepreneurial, and microenterprise development training, to ensure that individuals entering the childcare industry have clear pathways for advancement, including a pathway to business ownership. Enhanced supportive services, including needs-related payments, access to credit remediation, legal aid, and mental health services, will support successful participant outcomes. Disaster relief employment activities will create opportunities for eligible participants to address the immediate need for expanded access to childcare for wisconsin's working parents in childcare facilities offering, or willing to offer, nontraditional hours, which will offset some employer costs from extended hours of operation. Strategic partnership activities will include expanding small business development offerings to existing and new childcare service providers in marginalized communities, such as assistance with childcare licensing, certification, and subsidy reimbursement navigation. Community and potential participant outreach activities will include targeted outreach campaigns to reach priority populations of dislocated workers participating in rapid response activities, workers living in wisconsin's lowest income communities, individuals with limited english language proficiency, and refugee populations. Business engagement activities will ensure that employers have the knowledge and resources necessary to offer employer-funded childcare as an employee benefit, receive education on developing inclusive workplaces for working parents and other marginalized populations, and attract and retain workers because of high-quality, affordable childcare. Childcare providers will also be offered assistance to navigate licensing successfully and certification requirements, maximize the use of childcare reimbursement subsidy programs, gain access to high-quality staff, provide clear pathways for workers to advance via registered apprenticeship and continuing education, and provide fair compensation. Deliverables 778 planned participants enrolled. Intended beneficiary individuals from historically marginalized and low-income communities, including refugees and english language learners. Subrecipient activities local workforce development boards will enroll and train participants.