Preparing for construction work that includes an arena and a casino, officials from the city of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, community groups and unions will travel to Milwaukee Monday to take a look at a much-touted program to connect people with jobs.

A 20-person contingent will spend two days learning about Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership Big Step, which places some 500 people a year in jobs or apprenticeships.

"What you hear when you talk to large employers in town is that they can't find people," said city Chief of Staff Yarone Zober. Meanwhile, "people keep asking, 'How do I connect to jobs in construction and to post-construction jobs?'"

Big Step could provide ideas about how to solve both problems, he said.

"Mayor [Luke] Ravenstahl and the rest of the team are always looking for new ways to connect people with jobs," said Mr. Zober. "The Milwaukee Big Step model has really been held up there as a bright, shining star in the nation in terms of work force development."

The group also includes city Economic Development Coordinator Ed Gainey, county Executive Assistant Mark Jones, city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority Executive Director Mary Conturo, One Hill Community Benefits Agreement Coalition leader Carl Redwood, and leaders of several nonprofit organizations and labor unions.

Travel and lodging costs for three attendees will be covered by The Pittsburgh Foundation, which is sending Senior Program Officer Jane Downing.

One Hill wants guaranteed benefits for the Hill District, host of the new Penguins arena, including an inside track to job opportunities.

"We're supporting the establishment of something like the Big Step Program," said Mr. Redwood. He noted that Milwaukee is the scene of an agreement between government and neighborhoods to share benefits and ensure good jobs on the Park East development project.

Big Step tries to fill what is usually a missing link in work force development efforts, by shepherding people to the right services and then to good jobs, said its Associate Director Rhandi Berth.

Sometimes the program steers people to help with substance abuse or driver's license problems, other times it puts them right into apprenticeships or jobs. If they can't pass apprenticeship tests, it provides one-on-one tutoring.

"We do what makes sense and we get tremendous results," said Ms. Berth. Big Step is "about finding good employers and fitting them with good people who want to be matched up forever."

Big Step has also helped boost participation of minorities in apprenticeships.

Allegheny County is already heavily involved in work force development through the Community College of Allegheny County and a developing network of 10 community centers, said Kevin Evanto, spokesman for County Chief Executive Dan Onorato. Seven of the centers are up and running, and most offer job training.

"We've got a lot of stuff going on," Mr. Evanto said. "This trip's an opportunity to learn what Milwaukee's doing."