Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board

What Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board does

Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board (SWWDB) is a quasi-governmental workforce development organization designated under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to coordinate employment and training activities across six Southwest Wisconsin counties: Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, Richland, and Rock. Founded in 1983 and headquartered at 1717 Center Ave., Janesville, WI, the organization operates the American Job Center framework, delivering services through physical Job Centers in each county, a Virtual Job Center online platform, and a satellite office in Platteville. It serves both job seekers — including youth ages 14-24, adults 18+, dislocated workers, veterans, justice-involved individuals, FoodShare recipients, individuals with disabilities, and seniors 55+ — and local employers seeking recruitment, screening, job fair coordination, and subsidized training support.

SWWDB's core product portfolio includes the WIOA Youth Program, WIOA Adult and Dislocated Worker Program, FoodShare Employment and Training (FSET), Youth Apprenticeship coordination, the WISE Worker program for older adults, the FORWD program (Fostering Opioid Recovery through Workforce Development), Ticket to Work services, Windows-To-Work and Pathways Home reentry programming, an Independent Living Program for foster youth, Rapid Response services for layoffs and closures, and a Career Pathways program. Its underlying technology consists of the proprietary Xyte interactive online job-placement assessment platform integrated with JobFit for candidate-to-position matching, the Virtual Job Center for remote service access, and integration with the Wisconsin Job Center of Wisconsin state portal. Employer partners include major regional employers such as Mercy Health System, Beloit Health System, Grainger, Colony Brands, Kuhn North America, Rockwell Automation, and Land's End, spanning healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture/food, and education sectors.

SWWDB's business model is entirely government-funded, with no fees charged to participants. Primary revenue comes from federal WIOA grants administered by the U.S. Department of Labor and passed through the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, supplemented by competitive federal grants (notably a $5M Department of Labor apprenticeship project and a $426,645 FORWD grant), state passthrough funding, and partner program contributions. Employer business services are negotiated case-by-case with no public pricing. In PY 2023, SWWDB served 1,479 individuals with at least one basic career service, with 383 enrolled in workforce programs. The organization is not privately owned or investment-backed; it is a publicly funded workforce development entity operating as a 501(c)-equivalent nonprofit.

Name

Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board

Legal name

Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, Inc.

Website

https://swwdb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board is a federally-designated WIOA workforce development organization coordinating employment and training services across six Southwest Wisconsin counties for job seekers, youth, dislocated workers, and regional employers, funded by federal and state grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Incumbent Worker Training & Upskilling (EDAAAOAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning (EDAAAOAC), Onboarding & New-Hire Training Programs (BPACANAF)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Employment training programs
• Career counseling services
• Youth apprenticeship programs
• Job placement assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Janesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Federal WIOA Funding: Primary funding from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) federal grants administered through the U.S. Department of Labor, passed through the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. Services are provided at no cost to eligible participants.
2. Grant Programs: Various federal and state grants including Rapid Response services, National Dislocated Worker Grants, WIOA Demonstration Grants, FORWD (Fostering Opioid Recovery through Workforce Development), Support to Communities Grant, Pathways Home Programming, and FoodShare Employment and Training (FSET) program funding.
3. Special Grants - FORWD: $426,645 in Federal funding for the FORWD (Fostering Opioid Recovery through Workforce Development) project, funded by U.S. Department of Labor grant. 100% financed with Federal money.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board (SWWDB) is a nonprofit workforce development organization that coordinates employment and training activities across six Southwest Wisconsin counties (Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, Richland, and Rock). It delivers free career services, occupational skills training, apprenticeships, and employer recruitment support through the American Job Center framework, funded primarily by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

Product overview

Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board (SWWDB) provides a comprehensive workforce development platform through the American Job Center framework. The organization offers multiple integrated programs including WIOA Youth and Adult/Dislocated Worker programs, FoodShare Employment and Training (FSET), Youth Apprenticeship, Ticket to Work Services, Pathways Home Programming for justice-involved individuals, Rapid Response Services for layoffs/closures, and Employer/Business Services. Programs serve job seekers (youth 14-24 and adults 18+), employers seeking recruitment and training support, and dislocated workers. Services are delivered through Job Centers across six counties (Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, Richland, and Rock) with funding from WIOA, Department of Labor, and Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WIOA Youth Program Employment and training program for young adults ages 14-24 providing career readiness, skills development, and independence support for economically disadvantaged and at-risk youth.
• Youth Apprenticeship Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development program providing high school juniors and seniors with real-world experience through on-the-job training and classroom instruction.
• FoodShare Employment and Training (FSET) Voluntary employment and training program for FoodShare recipients in Wisconsin designed to help participants gain employment through skills development and barrier removal.
• WIOA Adult and Dislocated Worker Program Employment and training programs helping job seekers obtain job-related occupational skills, upgrade skills, obtain employment, improve job retention, and increase earnings.
• Employer/Business Services Comprehensive recruitment, screening, and training services for employers including candidate searches, advertising, job fairs, assessment tests, and customized employer training.
• Rapid Response Services Services designed to respond to layoffs and business closings, helping employers manage transition priorities and providing impacted employees with resources and reemployment services.
• Job Center Services Universal access workforce services through American Job Center framework providing job search assistance, career counseling, labor market information, and training coordination.
• Career Pathways Guides mapping how careers can progress from one level to the next, helping adults, youth, parents, educators and workforce development staff explain and map career success.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,479 individuals received at least one basic career service in PY 2023
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CESA 3coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth Apprenticeship program partner covering Grant, Iowa, Lafayette, and Richland county schools. CESA 3 provides youth apprenticeship coordination for high school juniors and seniors with real-world experience and skills development.
• Craftsmen with CharacterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development partner providing character-based training and employment services for youth.
• Job CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal education and job training program for young adults age 16-24. Wisconsin locations include Milwaukee Job Corps and Blackwell Job Corps. Provides vocational training, education, room and board scholarships for income-eligible youth.
• YouthBuild (Beloit Fresh Start)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Beloit youth program (Rock County only) helping opportunity youth improve lives and communities through education, career preparation, and community leadership development.
• Blackhawk Technical CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical college partner providing apprenticeship programs, career pathways, and adult education services in Green and Rock Counties.
• Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (SWTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical college partner providing apprenticeship programs, career pathways, adult basic education, and literacy services in Grant, Iowa, Lafayette, and Richland Counties.
• Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner providing employment services for persons with disabilities to obtain and maintain employment leading to independence and full inclusion in society.
• Jobs for Veterans State Grant ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal program providing employment services to veterans including LVER (Local Veteran Employment Representative) and DVOP (Disabled Veteran Outreach Program) services.
• Wisconsin Works (W2)/TANF ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState program providing employment and training services, emergency assistance, childcare, and transportation assistance for W-2 participants.
• Wisconsin Department of Workforce DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency providing labor exchange services, job center resources, workshops, apprenticeship information, and Trade Adjustment Assistance for dislocated workers.
• Rock Valley Community Programs (RVCP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidential Re-Entry Program operator serving adult offenders transitioning from prison, providing 115-bed CBRF services for Rock County area.
• National Farmworker Jobs Program - UMOSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal program providing career services, training, youth services, housing, and financial assistance to eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents in Wisconsin.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bay Area Workforce Development Board: Bay Area WDB is a WIOA-designated local workforce development board serving the Green Bay region of Wisconsin, operating Job Centers and providing the same WIOA-funded services, apprenticeship programs, and employer services as SWWDB.
• Employ Milwaukee: Employ Milwaukee is the designated Milwaukee County Workforce Development Board under WIOA, providing the same American Job Center framework, WIOA-funded services, and employer engagement model as SWWDB but serving the larger Milwaukee metropolitan area.
• West Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board: West Central Wisconsin WDB is a WIOA-designated local board serving a multi-county region, with the same federal funding structure, Job Center model, and adult/youth/dislocated worker programs as SWWDB.
• Fox Valley Workforce Development Board: Fox Valley WDB is a WIOA-designated local workforce development board serving the Fox Valley region of Wisconsin, operating American Job Centers and providing the same WIOA-funded employment, training, and youth programs as SWWDB.
• Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin: WDB of South Central Wisconsin is a designated WIOA local workforce development board serving an eight-county region anchored by Madison, with the same federal funding model, American Job Center structure, and program portfolio as SWWDB.

Broad incumbents

• ManpowerGroup: ManpowerGroup is a global staffing and workforce solutions company that competes with WDBs for employer recruitment, talent assessment (using tools like Xyte/JobFit-adjacent assessment platforms), and large-scale workforce programs—serving as a private-sector alternative for the employer services SWWDB offers.
• Goodwill Industries International: Goodwill Industries is a large national non-profit that operates workforce development, job training, and reentry programs for disadvantaged populations—overlapping significantly with SWWDB's youth, disability, and reentry service offerings but at national scale and with retail-funded cross-subsidization.
• Equus Workforce Solutions: Equus Workforce Solutions (a wholly owned subsidiary of ResCare/Equus) is a national for-profit workforce services provider operating WIOA and TANF employment programs under contract with workforce development boards and state agencies, making it both a peer and a potential contractor to WDBs like SWWDB.

Others

• Wisconsin Workforce Development Association: WWDA is the state-level association representing Wisconsin's WIOA local workforce development boards, providing advocacy, training, and coordination across all 11 WDBs in the state, including SWWDB, making it the closest umbrella organization for SWWDB's peer group.

Regional players

• Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development: Wisconsin DWD is the state agency that administers WIOA funds, operates the Job Center of Wisconsin portal, and provides statewide workforce programs that SWWDB implements locally—acting as SWWDB's primary state-level funder and policy overseer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SWWDB
• Facebookfacebook.com/swwdb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board