Northwest Wisconsin Concentrated Employment Program

What Northwest Wisconsin Concentrated Employment Program does

Northwest Wisconsin Concentrated Employment Program (CEP, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) private non-profit corporation founded in 1968 and headquartered in Ashland, Wisconsin. The organization operates as one of only three remaining Concentrated Employment Programs in the United States, providing WIOA Title I workforce development services across a 10,000 square mile region covering ten Northwest Wisconsin counties (Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, and Washburn) and serving more than 1,000 individuals each month.

Core service lines include Job Seeker Services (job search, resume and interview support, career assessments, training scholarships), Business Services (On-the-Job Training with 50% employer wage reimbursement, pre-qualified candidate matching, Rapid Response to layoffs), and Youth Services (career development for ages 14–24). Specialized programs include the Rescue Divas EMS Summer Camp, Youth Apprenticeship, a free adult Literacy Program, Keys to Succeed GED attainment, and the HIRED! job-readiness workshop. All services are free to eligible individuals and are delivered through four permanent job centers plus mobile outreach to surrounding communities.

The technology stack is operationally minimal — a website, county-segmented Facebook groups, Microsoft Teams, the statewide JobCenter of Wisconsin platform, and standard office tools — with no proprietary platform or software product. Revenue mechanics are grant-driven rather than market-based: federal WIOA funds channeled through the U.S. Department of Labor and Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development dominate, with secondary Vocational Rehabilitation funding, state/federal grants, and private foundation support. The organization is governed by a multi-county Board of Directors led by Executive Director Skyler Dural-Eder.

Name

Northwest Wisconsin Concentrated Employment Program

Legal name

Northwest Wisconsin Concentrated Employment Program, Inc.

Website

https://nwcep.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Northwest Wisconsin CEP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, federally designated WIOA workforce development provider serving job seekers, youth, and employers across ten Northwest Wisconsin counties from job centers in Ashland, Superior, and Park Falls, with all direct services delivered free of charge.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Employment Services (5613), Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Incumbent Worker Training & Upskilling (EDAAAOAE), Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning (EDAAAOAC), Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Job seeker assistance
• Career training programs
• Youth employment services
• Rapid response layoff

Headquarters

HQ city

Ashland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal WIOA Funding: CEP is primarily funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which provides dollars to help people with career training and job placement. This is the main federal funding source for workforce development programs.
2. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Funding: CEP receives funds from Vocational Rehabilitation that provides funding to work with individuals with disabilities and impairments.
3. State, Federal, and Private Foundation Grants: CEP administers numerous other programs from state, federal, and private funds, including programs that reach ex-offenders, individuals in transition from foster care, community programs or corrections, consumers with disabilities working through vocational rehabilitation programs, and various youth work programs.
4. Health Insurance Initiatives: Through their Health Insurance Initiatives program, CEP provides enrollment assistance for Marketplace Insurance, Medicaid, and CHIP insurance programs and education on using insurance benefits to promote health and wellness.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Northwest Wisconsin CEP administers federally funded WIOA Title I workforce development services across a 10-county region, connecting job seekers with employment opportunities through career counseling, job search assistance, resume help, training programs, and Rapid Response layoff support. The organization serves both individual job seekers (Job Seeker, Youth, and Literacy Services) and employers (On-the-Job Training programs with wage reimbursement, hiring assistance) while running specialized programs such as Rescue Divas EMS camp and Youth Apprenticeship.

Product overview

Northwest Wisconsin CEP operates as a workforce development organization offering a comprehensive suite of employment and training services through multiple programs. The core offerings include Job Seeker Services (job search assistance, resume support, interview training), Business Services (employer hiring assistance, On-The-Job Training with wage reimbursement), and Youth Services (career development for ages 14-24). Specialized programs include Rescue Divas (emergency medicine career camp for middle school girls), Youth Apprenticeship, Literacy Program, Keys to Succeed (GED attainment), and HIRED! (job readiness workshop). The organization also provided past programs including Crex Camp, Medical Discovery Days, Diva Tech, Mythbusting Manufacturing, and the Career Closet initiative. All services operate under WIOA Title I guidelines serving a 10,000 square mile region across ten Northwest Wisconsin counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rescue Divas: A five-day residential camp experience focusing on educating middle school girls about careers in Emergency Medical Services. Girls earn certification in First Aid, CPR and AED use.

Products and services

• Job Seeker Services Comprehensive employment assistance including job search support, resume and cover letter development, interview preparation, career assessments, education and certification support, and access to free resources such as Internet, telephone, fax, and photocopying. Targeted at adult job seekers eligible for WIOA Title I services.
• Business Services Workforce solutions for employers including On-The-Job Training (OJT) program with 50% wage reimbursement, workplace assessments, hiring assistance with pre-qualified candidates, and videoconferencing for workshops. Targeted at employers hiring in Northwest Wisconsin.
• Youth Services Career development programs for youth ages 14-24 including individual career development, job shadowing, occupational skill training, work experience opportunities, mentoring, and leadership development under WIOA Youth service provider designation. Targeted at eligible youth across the 10-county region.
• Rescue Divas Five-day residential summer camp for middle school girls focusing on emergency medical career exploration through hands-on activities, First Aid/CPR/AED certification, and exposure to EMS professions. Operated annually with capacity for 20 girls from Northwest Wisconsin counties.
• Literacy Program Free one-to-one adult tutoring for reading, writing, computer, and math skills, GED/HSED preparation, and job application assistance through partnership with WITC and Adult Education and Family Literacy Act Grant. Targeted at adult learners in the region.
• Youth Apprenticeship School-to-work program for high school juniors and seniors integrating school-based and work-based learning in employability and occupational skills, resulting in a state-issued skill certificate. Requires 450 hours of work plus related curriculum. Targeted at high school students.
• Keys to Succeed Paid GED attainment program for eligible individuals including those with low income, on public assistance, or with disabilities. Provides financial incentives for obtaining GED credentials.
• HIRED! Interactive job skills workshop helping students develop soft skills including basic communication, financial literacy, and customer service. Upon completion, students receive a certificate verifying readiness for employment.
• Rapid Response / Layoff Resources Support services for workers affected by layoffs including career counseling, job search assistance, resume help, training opportunities, and health insurance guidance through Rapid Response meetings with partner agencies. Activated when employers announce layoffs or closures.

Quantifiable outcome

• Helps over 1,000 individuals each month
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• Wisconsin Office of Rural HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2014Provided implementation grant to fund the inaugural session of Rescue Divas: EMS Summer Camp for Girls in 2015. The grant aimed to expose middle school girls to careers in emergency medicine.
• Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (WITC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEP is in partnership with WITC in Ashland and Superior for career training programs. CEP assists with funding for students to attend WITC courses including medical assistant, truck driving, and heavy equipment operator programs. Also partners on Literacy Program through Adult Education and Family Literacy Act Grant.
• Northcentral Technical CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEP partners with Northcentral Technical College which covers Price and Taylor Counties. CEP funds the Critical Core Business skills training course which is free for individuals, and employers are interested in interviewing those who complete the training.
• Northwood Tech (formerly WITC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEP partners with Northwood Tech for Youth Apprenticeship programs and career exploration events like Diva Tech that expose young women to non-traditional careers in trades and technology.
• Memorial Medical Center-AshlandsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on planning and development of the Rescue Divas EMS Summer Camp for Girls. Provided support and funding for the camp programs.
• Bayfield-Ashland County EMS CouncilsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with CEP on planning and development of Rescue Divas camp. Volunteers from the Council assist with camp activities and programming.
• Life Link IIIsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides air ambulance (medical helicopter) demonstrations and education at Rescue Divas camp. Helps expose girls to medical transport careers.
• NorthLakes Community ClinicsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Rescue Divas camp starting in 2017 to discuss healthcare and healthcare careers in northern Wisconsin.
• Sawyer County Search & RescuesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides canine unit demonstrations, search and rescue training, and drone demonstrations at Rescue Divas camp to teach girls search tactics and emergency response skills.
• Ashland Chamber of CommercesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsored Diva Tech event with CESA #12, NWCEP, WITC and Career Prep Consortium to highlight nontraditional careers in trades and technical fields for high school girls.
• CESA #12supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsored Diva Tech event with Ashland Chamber of Commerce, NWCEP, WITC and Career Prep Consortium.
• Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEP works in partnership with NWWIB to provide job training, job placement, education and resources to jobseekers. NWWIB provides funding for retraining and connects employers with candidates. Also presents Rising Star awards to recognize workforce development achievements.
• Gold Collar CareerssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with CEP, Manufacturing Works, Northcentral Technical College, NWWIB, and Skills Wisconsin for Mythbusting Manufacturing Tours to expose youth and adults to manufacturing career opportunities.
• Manufacturing WorkssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with CEP, Gold Collar Careers, Northcentral Technical College, NWWIB, and Skills Wisconsin for Mythbusting Manufacturing Tours.
• Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEP maintains WIOA through guidance set forth by the Department of Labor and Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. DWD provides information on Unemployment Insurance and job center resources at Rapid Response meetings.
• CESA #12supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAt Rapid Response meetings, provides information on employment opportunities in education across the CESA 12 region and guidance on obtaining appropriate licensure.
• Workforce Resource, Inc.supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate non-profit that assists individuals prepare for jobs through education, training and support services with priority given to low-income individuals, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.
• Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides employment and training resources for veterans at Rapid Response meetings.
• Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides career assistance for individuals with disabilities including job placement, training, and workplace accommodations at Rapid Response meetings.
• Covering Wisconsin Health Insurance NavigatorssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides guidance on Marketplace plans, BadgerCare Plus, and COBRA at Rapid Response meetings.
• Northcentral Technical College (ESL Programs)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinated with CEP and Reclaimed Rustic Woodworks to provide English as a Second Language (ESL) courses for employees hired through OJT program.
• LCO Community CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEP provides outreach services in partnership with LCO Community College for additional locations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Workforce Resource, Inc. Wisconsin-based private non-profit that prepares individuals for jobs through education, training and support services, prioritizing low-income, veteran, and disabled populations. Explicitly named as a CEP Rapid Response partner and operates an analogous WIOA-aligned service model.
• Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin: Wisconsin WIOA Title I workforce development board providing job seeker and employer services in a multi-county region. Closest structural analog to CEP within Wisconsin — same funding stream, same mission, same delivery model across a different regional footprint.
• Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin: Non-profit workforce development organization serving north central Wisconsin that delivers job training, placement, and vocational services to people with barriers to employment. Operates within an overlapping geography and shares the mission of serving displaced and underemployed workers.
• Forward Service Corporation: Wisconsin-based non-profit administering workforce development, education, and supportive service programs including WIOA-funded initiatives. Comparable in operating model and federal funding dependency as a regional WIOA service provider.
• Employ Milwaukee: Wisconsin's largest WIOA-funded workforce development board serving Milwaukee County. Operates the same American Job Center network model as CEP but at much greater scale, providing a benchmark for how the CEP model can scale up in a denser urban market.

Broad incumbents

• Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD): State agency that administers WIOA funding and Unemployment Insurance across Wisconsin. As CEP's primary funder and policy partner (cited in Rapid Response meetings), DWD sets the rules and budget allocations that CEP operates under — comparable as the regulatory umbrella entity.
• Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR): State agency providing career assistance for individuals with disabilities including job placement, training, and workplace accommodations. Listed as a CEP Rapid Response partner and a parallel public-sector provider of overlapping services.
• ManpowerGroup: Global staffing and workforce solutions company operating in the broader employment services space. Provides a for-profit, technology-enabled comparison point to CEP's grant-funded placement model — illustrates how commercial workforce firms operate alongside public-sector WIOA providers.

Regional players

• National Skills Coalition: National non-profit advocating for federal workforce and skills training policy including WIOA funding. Operates at the federal policy layer that determines CEP's funding envelope, providing an upstream systemic counterpart to CEP's on-the-ground delivery role.

Others

• Robert Half International: Major U.S. staffing and employment placement firm specializing in professional and administrative roles. Not directly competitive with CEP's mission-driven rural services but represents the broader private-sector employment placement ecosystem that shapes employer expectations for workforce services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CEPAshland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northwestwisconsincep

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Northwest Wisconsin Concentrated Employment Program