Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) has secured a significant $1.3 million federal TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. This five-year award is set to dramatically expand crucial academic and support services, directly benefiting the college’s mission to increase college completion, particularly for students from Door County and across the region who face significant barriers.
John Grant, Associate Vice President of Student affairs at NWTC, says that TRIO is poised to have a tangible impact on the local workforce pipeline, a key concern for Door County's employers, especially those served by the NWTC Sturgeon Bay Campus. By targeting first-generation students, low-income individuals, and students with disabilities, the program addresses opportunity gaps that, left unchecked, hinder individual success and regional economic vitality. He says NWTC data showed that only about 10% complete a degree or certificate within four years; a gap the new TRIO program aims to close.
Starting in spring 2026, the new TRIO SSS program will annually support 140 students with a comprehensive suite of free, individualized services. Including Door County students, whether enrolled in associate degrees or technical diplomas, to fill high-demand jobs in Sturgeon Bay’s shipbuilding, healthcare, or tourism sectors.
Grant goes on to say that “TRIO is available across both NWTC campuses and all their region sites. This is an opportunity to increase the persistence of NWTC students as well as graduation and transfer rates.” “Getting a TRIO grant is very hard and keeping it ensures balanced education opportunities for those in our community and residents for generations to come.”
For Door County, where industries are consistently looking for a skilled, educated workforce, the TRIO grant is more than just an educational boost, t's an economic catalyst. By actively improving persistence, GPA, and graduation rates among at-risk students, NWTC ensures more individuals graduate with the credentials necessary to fill in-demand jobs right here on the peninsula, strengthening the entire region's economy and its community fabric. The college is now positioned to significantly enhance the success stories of its most vulnerable learners, promising a brighter future for the students and the communities they will serve.
