The Blackwell Job Corps facility was given a reprieve from closure several weeks ago after the Trump Administration decided not to close the facility. But there's apparently more work to be done to keep it open.
In May, the Trump administration said they would close Blackwell and other facilities under USDA governance and move the program to the Department of Labor. A bipartisan backlash led to a reversal of that decision in June.
During a stop this week in Rhinelander, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin said while the program in Forest county will remain for now, more work in Congress needs to be done...
"..We're glad that it's back on track. We do know there's going to be a thorough reevaluation and I'm going to be fighting to make sure it's a fair evaluation and that they're on a level playing field in terms of their peer centers, in terms of continuing this program..."
Job Corps is a no-cost education and career technical training program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor that helps young people ages 16 to 24 improve the quality of their lives through career technical and academic training.
Baldwin took a tour of the facility and spoke of one person's experience...
"...I met a young woman who is getting into the trades and has an apprenticeship lined up who is homeless before getting this opportunity and had no idea what was going to come next...."
Senator Baldwin says the Blackwell facility does good work in supporting the U.S. Forest Service mission.
