KENOSHA, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin–Parkside is highlighting how new Universities of Wisconsin budget proposals could strengthen the regional workforce, expand educational access, and accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship across Kenosha and southeastern Wisconsin.
Announced this week by Universities of Wisconsin leadership, the proposals include Accelerate Wisconsin, Tech for Tomorrow, UW for U, and other workforce-focused initiatives designed to prepare 300,000 career-ready workers, upskill 1 million workers, and help launch 2,500 new businesses over the next decade.
“The Universities of Wisconsin have long helped Wisconsin address some of its biggest challenges,” said Universities of Wisconsin Interim President Renée Wachter. “Our budget will offer opportunities to invest in people and education that will help Wisconsin meet its workforce challenges, while providing targeted funds to help grow the next generation of businesses.”
UW–Parkside Chancellor Lynn Akey said the proposals align directly with the needs of employers, workers, and communities throughout the region.
“Wisconsin’s economic future depends on talent,” Akey said. “Wisconsin’s employers need workers with the skills to succeed in a rapidly changing economy. Our communities need innovators and entrepreneurs who can grow businesses and create jobs. And our state needs more residents with the education and training necessary to compete in high-demand fields.”
An investment in the Universities of Wisconsin, Akey said, is an investment in students pursuing degrees, working adults seeking new skills, and employers who depend on a strong talent pipeline to grow and prosper.
Over the past year, UW–Parkside launched five accelerated online degree programs designed specifically for working adults and place-bound learners. These flexible programs are helping more Wisconsin residents gain credentials, complete degrees, and advance their careers while balancing work and family responsibilities. Additional support through the proposed UW for U initiative would further expand access to these opportunities.
Akey also highlighted Parkside Works, UW–Parkside’s partnership and workforce innovation office, which connects students, employers, educators, and community organizations through internships, workforce partnerships, continuing education, and applied learning opportunities.
Akey noted that investment through the proposed Accelerate Wisconsin initiative would allow UW–Parkside to deepen partnerships with organizations such as the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood (KIN), strengthening connections among higher education, entrepreneurs, researchers, and industry leaders.
Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood (KIN) Partnership Creating New Opportunities
KIN President Kelly Armstrong said the 107-acre redevelopment project is transforming former industrial land into a collaborative innovation district designed to generate new ideas, develop talent, and grow businesses in the heart of Kenosha.
“This land once helped power Wisconsin’s economy,” Armstrong said. “Today, we have the opportunity to make this site an economic engine once again by building what’s next.” Armstrong emphasized that universities play a vital role in successful innovation ecosystems by providing talent, research capacity, and lifelong learning opportunities.
“We can build facilities, collaborative spaces, and bring businesses together, but we need universities to bring the talent, knowledge, and research capacity that activate those assets,” Armstrong said.
One example is a new partnership between UW–Parkside and Ordify AI, a startup located at KIN. Through the collaboration, students from multiple disciplines work alongside faculty and company leaders on solution architecture, client engagement, and proposal development, gaining firsthand experience in an AI-enabled economy while helping businesses adopt emerging technologies.
“The true measure of our success will be the students who gain the experience needed to start a career here, the entrepreneurs who turn ideas into job-creating companies, and the small businesses that become more competitive,” Armstrong said.
Together, UW–Parkside and KIN are demonstrating how education, workforce development, and innovation can work hand in hand to create long-term economic opportunity for Kenosha County and the state of Wisconsin.
About the University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Since 1968, the University of Wisconsin–Parkside has been turning ambition into achievement. Through undergraduate and graduate degrees, certificates, and hands-on learning experiences, UW–Parkside empowers students to launch careers and strengthen the regional workforce. Located in the Milwaukee-Chicago corridor, UW-Parkside connects students with employers, internships, and partnerships that drive innovation and economic growth across southeastern Wisconsin.
About the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood
The Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood is a 107-acre redevelopment project transforming former industrial land into a mixed-use innovation district that connects education, business, entrepreneurship, and community partners to foster economic growth and opportunity throughout southeastern Wisconsin.