She's managing with loans from relatives and from Yolanda. At this time, we are comfortable that we provided enough resources. However, we are in the process of trying to review how we will meet further needs for training. The state, she says, has folded training funds and support services into the contracts awarded W-2 agencies here. Some say there never will be enough government money.
Cash is scarce even now.
But as William Malone, its work force development administrator, notes wryly, Milwaukee County's W-2 caseload was about 20,000 when the program began in September. State administrators expect that will probably be used to help retain W-2 workers in jobs. Employers will be forced to carry more of the load. For another, most of the occupational training programs under W-2 are short, usually around 12 weeks, not enough to get many workers fully trained. And there are intangible costs, as Thomas and Jeff Aldridge learned recently.