Overview

• Founded in 1976 as BIG STEP to increase representation of women, minorities, and younger workers in construction trades, evolving from Vince Toran’s 1967 Project Leap initiatives
• Formalized partnership in 2002 between WRTP (established in 1992) and BIG STEP, creating coordinated employer-driven workforce development programs with WRTP as fiscal agent
• Established Center of Excellence for Skilled Trades & Industry in 2005 with support from Governor Jim Doyle to centralize training initiatives
• Expanded statewide operations in 2014 through board merger, adding Madison and Racine locations to original Milwaukee base
• Received 2000 U.S. Department of Labor demonstration grant to replicate manufacturing training programs across sectors

Specializations

• Construction industry workforce development through BIG STEP’s legacy programs
• Manufacturing sector training initiatives funded by Annie E. Casey Foundation since 1992
• Multi-sector apprenticeship coordination through Center of Excellence infrastructure
• Demographic-specific recruitment targeting women, minorities, and youth in skilled trades

Services & Approach

• Employer-driven worker readiness programs coordinating labor needs with training curricula
• Sector-specific replication services for manufacturing training models (DOL-funded since 2000)
• Public-private partnership facilitation between businesses, unions, and government agencies
• Statewide skilled trades workforce development through Madison, Racine, and Milwaukee locations