State providing grants for training in solar industry

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The state is providing a grant for training in the solar industry as part of its latest distribution from its Wisconsin Fast Forward program.

The state Department of Workforce Development announced Thursday that $18,134 will go to the Midwest Renewable Energy Association to training in solar energy and storage to one unemployed trainee and 21 current workers. The training will come from consortium of solar companies formed by the MREA. Upon completing the training, the participants will receive wage increases of between 72 cents and $1 an hour.

The money is coming from $2 million worth of Wisconsin Fast Forward grants the state announced it was distributing on Thursday. The grants are used to reimburse employers for the cost of occupational training.

Another recipient of the grants announced Thursday will be Verhia Trucking Inc., in Marinette County. Verhia will recieve $393,505 to will provide 320 hours of training to 72 unemployed trainees in truck driving. Following the training, the workers will receive wage increases of as much as $8 an hour.

Still further recipients of the grants include various manufacturing and health-care companies.