Workforce & Business Development

Tech for Tomorrow will ensure Wisconsin’s economic and workforce competitiveness will be strengthened through investments in emerging technologies, research, workforce training, industry partnerships, and experiential learning. These efforts will accelerate the transition of new technologies from research labs to commercialization and help Wisconsin consumers and businesses in areas such as agriculture, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and freshwater innovation. Expanding capacity in areas such as these will attract investment, support strategic industries, improve environmental and health outcomes, and develop a highly skilled workforce prepared to meet the state’s evolving needs. Examples of proposed university investments include:

UW-Madison would use this funding to address the needs for modernization and additional capital equipment investments at the state’s 15 agricultural research stations. The research stations support Wisconsin’s agricultural economy through applied crop, soil, livestock, and environmental research used directly by producers. They also provide critical information to state agencies, conservation partners, and communities on water quality, climate adaptation, and natural resource management. In addition, the stations provide hands-on research experiences that help prepare the state’s future agricultural and environmental workforce. Modernization and capital equipment investments at the stations would further facilitate student learning opportunities across UW-Madison, UW-Platteville, and UW-River Falls.

UW-La Crosse would create an Empowering Quality, Use, And Innovation in Practical Technology (EQUIPT) program that will function as a regional catalyst for emerging technologies, strengthening partnerships between the university, local employers, and community organizations to address workforce needs and regional challenges in the areas of agriculture, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing and freshwater industries. By connecting academic expertise with real-world applications, EQUIPT will help advance emerging technologies from research to commercialization while expanding opportunities for applied research, innovation, and talent development. Wisconsin businesses and consumers will benefit from greater access to faculty expertise, research capabilities, and a pipeline of skilled graduates prepared to meet evolving workforce demands.

UW-Milwaukee would use this funding to establish a multidisciplinary artificial intelligence (AI) for manufacturing initiative that expands research and teaching capacity, strengthens partnerships with Wisconsin manufacturers, and prepares the future workforce through enhanced student research opportunities. The addition of a dedicated faculty expert and student research fellowships is expected to attract significant external funding, engage more than 100 students in research experiences, and position the university as a leader in advanced manufacturing innovation across multiple industries.

Accelerate WI will strengthen Wisconsin’s economic competitiveness by supporting entrepreneurship, business creation and expansion, commercialization, responsible AI adoption, and workforce development. Investments will help move new technologies from research to market, expand entrepreneurship education and business support, develop new Wisconsin products and markets, and address workforce needs through industry-responsive education and training. These efforts will foster business growth, support emerging entrepreneurs and underserved communities, and position Wisconsin for continued economic growth, innovation, and workforce success. Examples of proposed university investments include:

UW-Stevens Point would establish the Central Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Center at UW-Stevens Point by bringing together the Sentry School of Business and Economics and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in the future Sentry Hall, creating a consolidated and visible hub for entrepreneurship services and programming. The Center would expand the scale and scope of both credit and noncredit entrepreneurship education, provide one-on-one mentorship for student entrepreneurs, offer fractional expertise and operational services to help emerging businesses grow, and establish long-term funding for the SBDC site in Antigo to continue serving northern Wisconsin. It would also serve as a regional entrepreneurship touchpoint by convening partners, coordinating services, expanding networking opportunities, supporting entrepreneurship financing efforts, collaborating with entrepreneurship programs across the Universities of Wisconsin, and connecting alumni entrepreneurs with students and community entrepreneurs to strengthen the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem.

UW-Platteville would expand entrepreneurship, rural business development, and e-commerce across Southwest Wisconsin. This investment would strengthen the region’s agricultural, manufacturing, and small business sectors through enhanced business support and expanded innovative programs such as UW-Extension business support, mobile processing units, innovation center expansion and strengthened corporate partnership pipelines. Focused on hands-on training, digital literacy, and commercialization, this initiative aims to modernize rural economies and supply chains while supporting rural business growth, expanding entrepreneurship opportunities across counties, and advancing agricultural workforce development.

UW-River Falls proposes a targeted investment to strengthen Wisconsin’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and support the creation, and expansion of value-added agricultural and food-based businesses, both within UW-River Falls and with regional partners. This initiative builds on the university’s established strengths and existing infrastructure, including its Meat Plant, Dairy Pilot Plant, laboratory farms, and University Business Collaboration Center, which together provides a unique, integrated platform for product development, testing, and market entry.  The proposed investment will expand the university’s capacity to support entrepreneurs, small businesses, and industry partners by enhancing coordination, technical expertise, and facility utilization.

U Succeed will ensure UW students have the academic, career, and personal support needed to succeed in college and graduate ready for tomorrow’s workforce. Investments in advising, career counseling, mental health services, high-impact learning experiences, and financial and basic needs support will improve student retention and graduation rates while expanding access to internships, undergraduate research, experiential learning, and other career-connected opportunities that prepare graduates to meet Wisconsin’s workforce needs. Examples of proposed university investments include:

UW-Green Bay will strengthen student success by providing proactive, personalized support from enrollment through graduation, improving retention, degree completion, career readiness, and post-graduation outcomes. Investments in internship coordination, career advising, community-based learning coordination, academic advising, success coaching, peer mentoring, tutoring, and student success technology will help students navigate their academic pathways, connect coursework to career opportunities, access timely support, and build stronger connections to campus and the workforce.

UW-Whitewater would enhance student support services by expanding access to licensed mental health counselors to reduce wait times, restore regular counseling for students, and improve the quality, privacy, security, and effectiveness of clinical services through facility, technology, and operational improvements. It would also expand financial literacy education, financial aid assistance, and personal financial coaching through campus support centers. They would also add professional academic advisors dedicated to graduate students in both in-person and online programs, providing targeted support while strengthening academic support for graduate students to aid in persistence.

UW for U strengthens Wisconsin’s workforce pipeline by expanding degree completion, competency-based education, continuing education, online learning, workforce-aligned programs, and industry-responsive credentials. Developed in partnership with employers and informed by labor market needs, these efforts will increase access to workforce-relevant education, strengthen transfer and experiential learning pathways, and prepare learners of all backgrounds for high-demand careers while supporting economic growth across Wisconsin. Examples of proposed university investments include:

UW-Stout Polytechnic has supported working professionals through flexible educational pathways since 1999. This investment would strengthen the infrastructure needed to expand competency-based education by aligning student services and learning delivery through a coordinated systems approach, ultimately increasing degree and certification completions. The funding would also enhance support for re-entry students by providing dedicated academic advising, tutoring and peer mentoring helping students successfully return, persist, and graduate on time. Additionally, scholarships may be provided to make a polytechnic college education affordable.

UW-Superior will collaborate with external workforce development partners to develop and deliver ten new noncredit professional development microcredentials and/or customized training offerings, ten new credit-bearing microcredentials that address workforce and learner needs and build one reduced credit degree program. They will also design and host an annual one-day event on high-demand topics with a target enrollment of 50 participants.

This is a pivotal time for a state investment to expand dual enrollment opportunities for all Wisconsin high school students through a comprehensive, statewide funding model that supports dual enrollment in all its forms including Early College Credit Programs (ECCP), Start College Now, concurrent enrollment partnerships between institutions and school districts (also referred to as College Credit in High Schools, Dual Enrollment at the High School, or Transcripted Credit, among other terms) and dual credit. Such an investment will reduce financial barriers for Wisconsin students, provide sustainable funding and avoid financial burdens on school districts, and increase access to high-quality college coursework, particularly for students in rural and underserved communities.

Expanding dual enrollment opportunities will accelerate student success, strengthen pathways to post-secondary credentials, and help meet Wisconsin’s future workforce needs by allowing more students to earn transferable college credit while still in high school. Generally, in states with the highest levels of dual enrollment participation, the state, rather than students, pays most or all the tuition, and the program is available statewide, not through isolated local agreements.

The Board of Regents recommends that the state include such a program in its biennial budget. No amount is included within the UW’s request because the money would be allocated to an administering state agency, for distribution to Wisconsin school districts.