Future Talent

In Racine County,  innovative programs are preparing our students for 21st century careers  through cross-curricular, real world and project based activities. Education and business partnerships ensure that K-12 students are exposed to a variety of career pathways and employment opportunities in our community. Educators and businesses are working together to build curriculum that equip students with indemand skills. And private-public partnerships provide future talent access to training in state-of-the-art facilities.

Collaboration with K-12 educators and workforce partners ensures the next generation is career and work ready. 

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    Higher Education

    Racine County’s proximity to Milwaukee and Kenosha means convenient access to many great higher educational institutions, including

    • Gateway Technical College
      Racine County is proud to be home to Gateway Technical College’s Burlington Center, HERO Center, Racine Campus and SC Johnson iMET Center. At Gateway, students receive an industry-focused education that is flexible, accessible, and affordable.
    • University of Wisconsin–Parkside
      UW-Parkside is one of 13 four-year campuses in the University of Wisconsin System. UW Parkside is located in Somers, Wisconsin, between Racine and Kenosha on 700 acres with natural prairies and woodlands. Enrollment is 5,300 students.
    • Carthage College
      Founded in 1847, Carthage College is a four-year, private college of the liberal arts and sciences in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Carthage combines an environment of reflection and selfdiscovery with a culture of high expectation so students uncover and ignite their true potential.
    • University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
      One of the nation’s 115 top research universities, UWMilwaukee provides a world-class education to a diverse group of 26,000 students. The Princeton Review named UW-Milwaukee a 2018 “Best Midwestern” university based on overall academic excellence and student reviews.
    • Marquette University
      Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university located near the heart of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin that offers a comprehensive range of majors in 11 nationally and internationally recognized colleges and schools.
    • Milwaukee School of Engineering
      MSOE is a private, non-profit university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Engineering, Business and Nursing.
    • Milwaukee Area Technical College
      MATC is a public, two-year comprehensive technical college offering exceptional educational and training opportunities and services to its diverse metropolitan area.
    • Alverno College
      Alverno College is of the nation’s largest Catholic women’s colleges, Alverno is dedicated to the personal and professional development of its students, offering weekday and flexible evening undergraduate programs for women, as well as graduate programs for women and men.

    Talent Resources News

    RCEDC partnered with local companies to develop, implement and manage a digital advertising campaign, targeting primarily qualified audiences in Northern Illinois. The campaign delivers messages of high quality of life and career opportunities with the goal of bringing more people to Racine County to meet the talent needs of our employers.

    As the Great Resignation puts retention at the top of everyone's to-do list, one thing employers may overlook is the importance of internal career growth. This workshop takes a holistic approach to meet both the needs of the individual as well as the needs of the organization.

    Professionals throughout southeast Wisconsin are invited to explore Eastern Racine County as part of the Greater Racine County Familiarization Tour.

    The Racine County Economic Corp. (RCEDC) and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC) launched a marketing campaign encouraging young professionals in the Chicago area to consider living and working in Wisconsin. According to Redfin's 2022 4th quarter search results, about 17% of home-seeking Chicagoans were looking to relocate to a new metro area. Lower cost of living, lower home prices, short commute times, and accessibility to Chicago and Milwaukee, has positioned Southeast Wisconsin as the ideal location for a majority of these home seekers.

    During this session, you will learn why engagement matters. Disengaged employees cost US companies more than $450 billion in productivity losses annually. Join RCEDC, RAMAC and Living As A Leader for this in-depth conversation as we uncover the importance of engagement and how you can assess and increase engagement levels at your company.

    Come and see how Gateway Technical College students stand out and learn how their hands-on career training has prepared them to meet employers' needs. The School of Manufacturing, Engineering and Information Technology is hosting six Reverse Career Fairs that will take place at various Gateway Technical College locations during the month of March.

    Professionals throughout southeast Wisconsin are invited to explore Racine County as part of the Spring 2023 Greater Racine County Familiarization Tour.

    The Wisconsin Fast Forward (WFF) program is a state-funded grant program that provides employer-led worker training grants. Grant awards will range from $5,000 to $400,000 per grantee.

    The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) recently awarded the Village of Waterford $250,000 as part of the Community Development Investment (CDI) Grant program. The grant will go towards construction of what will become the Waterford Lofts, located at 506 E Main Street.

    The Greater Racine County initiative was developed by the Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC) to showcase the abundance of opportunities available to those who decide to take root here. The GRC Newsletter highlights talent recruitment and retention resources as well as community promotion and examples of those who chose Racine County.

    Greater Racine County serves as a portal for those who decide to explore, work and take root in Racine County. From new housing development to the expanding opportunities in the manufacturing industry, discover the latest updates in the February 2022 GRC Newsletter!

    As a group of 18 institutions, HERA represents more than 140,000 students across southeastern Wisconsin who are key to driving our economy forward. However, finding and recruiting talent can be a challenge. To combat this, HERA established the Best Practices for Recruiting to share creative ideas on how employers can collaborate with and recruit from our region’s universities and colleges.

    INVEST IN RCEDC

    RCEDC’s mission is to grow Racine County’s property tax base and by supporting business expansions, provide employment opportunities to Racine County residents. In 2023, RCEDC staff were able to facilitate 64 projects that included comprehensive site selection, loans, grants, and incentives resulting in $1.36 billion in private investment and $1.05 billion in new construction.

      INVESTMENT LEVELS

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