Lakeshore College has received $1.5 million in grant funding from the Wisconsin Technical College System to expand student success efforts, strengthen workforce training and build clearer educational pathways across the region. The college said the money will be used in 2026 to reduce gaps in student achievement and raise program completion rates.
Part of the grant will expand the college’s Maintenance Mechanic Millwright apprenticeship program, with industry-aligned equipment intended to increase enrollment capacity and better prepare students for jobs in advanced manufacturing and industrial maintenance. The funding will also strengthen Lakeshore’s Dental Hygiene program through support for accreditation efforts, initial curriculum instruction, faculty professional development and specialized supplies for hands-on training.
The grant also extends beyond campus. Lakeshore College plans to deepen collaboration with K-12 partners so high school students can earn dual credit, move more smoothly into postsecondary education and gain skills they can carry directly into the workforce. President Paul Carlsen said the investment will help the college continue building strong pathways for students at every stage of their educational journey, and he said the school is grateful for the support as it works to meet the evolving needs of students, employers and communities.
The funding fits a larger push to connect education with local labor needs, especially in advanced manufacturing, industrial maintenance and health-care training. What makes this award matter now is that it gives the college a single round of support for programs that affect students before college, during training and after graduation — a chain that often breaks at the weakest link. Lakeshore is betting that better equipment, stronger faculty support and tighter school partnerships will help keep more college students on that path long enough to finish it.
