Nurturing Community – SOFTEC
As published in the Intercounty Leader on August 16, 2023
SOFTEC is an alternative Certified Education opportunity that allows students 18 and older to train, live and earn locally. Our mission is to provide equal access to affordable, effective, accelerated 5-6 week technical and communication skills education and training experiences in a safe environment. SOFTEC industry-certified training develops employable people to meet the current and future needs of employers and leads to expedited living wage placement with northwest Wisconsin and central Minnesota businesses.
SOFTEC’s Training Provider is an accredited WI Licensed Private School that helps fill the education gap in rural Wisconsin by giving opportunities to the unemployed, underemployed and those with many barriers. A heavy equipment operator certification can be earned in less than six weeks or a computer tech position in less than six months! Graduates can earn $60,000-$100,000 plus benefits. Students graduate debt-free and are connected directly with industry leaders who desire SOFTEC trained and certified graduates ready to hire. SOFTEC’s impact is significant and measurable. The 50+ students trained at SOFTEC to date, using a conservative average of $50,000 annual salary, equates to $2.5 million dollars that comes back annually to our region! Local people, earning sustainable wages, bring money back to our local economy.
SOFTEC changes lives by giving hope to those who have many barriers in life. Thomas, a recent 2023 graduate, said he had had no luck transitioning from incarceration into the world. “I love the class at SOFTEC, not being judged, and everything they have done for me.” Thomas needed a “second chance” and felt this was the first time someone believed in him. These life-changing opportunities are funded through your donations. Ask about our “Beacon of Hope” program for SOFTEC graduates to help with immediate on-boarding expenses for new hires to bridge the gap between the first day at work until receiving the first paycheck of a new career.
Supporting SOFTEC is your chance to have an impact directly on someone’s life and will make our community stronger! For more information about our programs, or to make a donation, please check our website at https://www.softeceducation.org/ or email us at softeceducation@gmail.com. Call us at 1-612-991-6691 for an appointment to visit our training site at 25070 Hwy 35N, Siren.
The Northwest Alliance Community Foundation is an affiliate of the St. Croix Valley Foundation. We support our area nonprofits with educational opportunities and grants. Please consider joining us by making a donation. See our website nacommunityfoundation.org for more information or email nacf.hq@gmail.com.