WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes Along with CEDC President CEO Charlie Walker visits a Chippewa Falls business KYMA Battery Technologies for a retention and expansion update while also celebrating Healthcare Workforce Training Institute grand opening.
The Dove Healthcare Community Foundation received a Capacity Building grant from the WEDC. The grant assists the Institute in providing virtual and hybrid training programs for students who would otherwise be unable to access their services. This $75,000 state grant helped to expand the Chippewa Falls Healthcare Workforce Training Institute’s Education Center located on the campus of Dove Healthcare facility site in Chippewa Falls. The newly expanded Chippewa Falls Healthcare Workforce Training Institute provides training for individuals pursuing careers as Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) or Certified Medication Aides, as well as those seeking Community-Based Residential Facility trainings and American Red Cross First Aid training.
“Quality health care services are essential to Wisconsin’s families and our economy, and the Healthcare Workforce Training Institute is preparing health care providers to tackle the challenges of tomorrow,” Hughes said. “Through hands-on, high-quality education, we can provide a brighter future for caregivers and patients alike.”
“We are honored to receive these funds, which will help us expand our course offerings and double the size of our Education Center located in Chippewa Falls,” said Paula Gibson, director of the Healthcare Workforce Training Institute. “In our first 15 months of operation we have educated over 1,000 students including over 500 of them graduating from our CNA courses.”
“The Capacity Building grant from WEDC also will assist the Institute to provide virtual and hybrid training programs for students who would otherwise be unable to access their services which will continue to develop a pipeline of labor for existing companies in the healthcare field.” said Charlie Walker President CEO of Chippewa Economic Development Corporation.
After the grand opening of the Healthcare Workforce Training Institute Missy Hughes met with the Chippewa Economic Business Expansion and Retention (BEAR) team with the owners of KYMA Battery Technologies. The B.E.A.R. Program was started in 2007 in an effort to support our existing businesses. The BEAR Program is
currently made up of Discussions, Lunch & Learns, Listening Sessions, Visits, and our Podcast.
Lesley Blaine one of the owners of KYMA Battery Technologies gave an overview of the company’s creation and timeline for operation. The group discussed the future of the industry, availability of labor and the difficulty in getting new industries properly permitted in Wisconsin compared to other Midwest locations.