Goodwill North Central Wisconsin has been recognized at the state level for its workforce training work in the Fox Valley. Fox Valley Technical College announced Nov. 12 that Goodwill NCW received the Wisconsin Technical Colleges Futuremaker Partner Award.

The award honors the Career EXCELerate partnership among Fox Valley Tech, Goodwill NCW and Rawhide Youth Services. Since 2022, the program has offered tuition-free training, coaching and support to help local residents start careers in high-demand fields.

According to the announcement, the partnership has served more than 1,000 people, awarded more than 480 workforce credentials, and raised participant wages by an average of more than $11 per hour.

A new three-year agreement is now underway to keep the programs going. The next round will continue training in nursing assistant, welding fundamentals and professional truck driving.

The award was presented during a ceremony at Fox Valley Technical College, where culinary and hospitality students prepared and served a three-course meal for the event.