The article “University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Earns Fast Forward Grant to Offer More Paid Internship Opportunities” discusses how UW–Milwaukee (UWM) received more than $590,000 in Wisconsin Fast Forward funding to expand paid internship opportunities for students in high-demand industries. The grant, awarded through Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development (DWD), aims to strengthen the state’s workforce pipeline while helping students gain valuable professional experience before graduation. The funding focuses primarily on green energy, clean water industries, and fields where internships are often unpaid, such as humanities and social sciences.
More than half of the grant funding—approximately $382,000—was designated to support internships in Wisconsin’s growing green energy and clean water sectors. UWM partnered with a variety of Wisconsin companies and organizations to place between 40 and 50 student interns in paid positions. Students pursuing degrees in engineering, chemistry, physics, business, and related fields were selected for the program. Participating employers included Arch Solar, A.O. Smith, Clarios, Foxconn, Milwaukee Tool, Baker Manufacturing, GESTRA, and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. The first cohort of interns began work in May 2023.
The remaining $208,624 in funding was allocated to create paid internships for approximately 20 students in humanities, social sciences, and other academic programs where unpaid internships are more common. UWM leaders emphasized that paid internships help reduce financial barriers that often prevent students from gaining professional experience. Interns participating in the program also receive career development support through coursework focused on resume writing, interviewing, professional communication, and networking skills.
UWM Chancellor Mark Mone described the grant as an important investment in Wisconsin’s future workforce. He noted that more than 80% of UWM graduates remain in Wisconsin after graduation, making internships an important strategy for retaining skilled workers in the state. Governor Tony Evers and DWD officials also praised the program, emphasizing that paid internships help students “earn while they learn” while encouraging employers to build long-term talent pipelines in rapidly growing industries.
