WAUSAU, Wis. (October 26, 2026) — Northcentral Technical College will help train 175 workers at three central Wisconsin businesses through state grants totaling $514,548. The training will help employees build skills in artificial intelligence, use new tools and adapt to changes in the workplace.
Apogee Wausau Group Inc., Enerquip Thermal Solutions LLC and REI Engineering Inc. have been offered grants through the Wisconsin Training for Resilient Advanced Industry Needs program, known as WisTRAIN. The grants support training for 161 current employees and 14 new hires.
“Working with employers helps us connect education with the skills people need on the job,” said NTC President Jeannie Worden. “These partnerships create opportunities for employees to build confidence with new technology and continue developing throughout their careers. They also help us respond to the workforce needs of businesses across central Wisconsin.”
Each company’s training will focus on skills that meet its needs:
Apogee Wausau Group Inc. — $320,040: NTC will provide training for 66 current employees and four new hires at the company’s Wausau and Stratford facilities. Workers will learn AI basics, how to use data to spot equipment problems before a breakdown and how to study production data to improve operations.
Enerquip Thermal Solutions LLC — $36,108: The Taylor County company will train 50 current employees in AI. Training resources include NTC’s Central Wisconsin AI Center and AI Academy through SmarterX.
REI Engineering Inc. — $158,400: The Marathon County company will train 45 current employees and 10 new hires through its longstanding partnership with NTC. Training will cover AI tools, including Microsoft Copilot and Claude, along with online teamwork, cybersecurity and rules for managing and protecting data.
These partnerships connect local employers with training that helps workers use new technology in their daily jobs. Employees will gain practical skills, while businesses will prepare their teams for changing workplace needs.
The three grants are part of a statewide announcement by Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. The state announced $6.6 million in WisTRAIN grants for 84 employers to train 3,823 workers in advanced manufacturing and AI.
WisTRAIN uses federal funding to support job training shaped by employers’ needs. Wisconsin is one of 14 states to receive an Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.
