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 The Skilled Trades Training Fund (STTF) provides competitive awards for employer responsive training that enhances talent, productivity, and employment retention, while increasing the quality and competitiveness of Michigan’s businesses.
Grayling Generating Station, an independent renewable energy facility that utilizes biomass waste to produce electricity in Grayling, received $24,000 of Skilled Trades Training Funds to upgrade the skills of 16 employees to become Certified Welders. As a result, Grayling Generating Station no longer outsources their welding needs, which reduce company expenses.
Training provider Ernie Adams of Kirkland Community College was impressed by Generating Station’s employees. Adams remarked, “Kirkland Community College is pleased to announce that during the course of training the employees of Generating Station, the outcomes surpassed the expectations of the trainers. Employees received not only the planned certification, but each also received an additional two to four certifications, from the planned 16 certifications to a total of 45 certifications. The company has employees with additional welding abilities and the employees have highly sought after industry credentials.”
For more information about the STTF please contact skilled@michigan.gov, or to speak with a Michigan Works! Business Services Representative about the availability of funding in your region, please refer to the STTF Key Contact List.
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The Michigan Workforce Development Agency has recently applied for a number of federal grant opportunities to inform, support, and expand demand-driven workforce training/work-based learning throughout the state.
The recent applications include:
- American Apprenticeship Initiative grant application for $2.954 million, April 28
(Awards have not been announced)
- Unemployment Insurance Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment for $961,746, May 1
(USDOL awarded Michigan $961,746 on June 29)
- Workforce Data Quality Initiative grant application for $1.17 million, May 4
(USDOL awarded Michigan $1,088,282 on June 29)
- Sector Partnership National Emergency Grant for $7 million, May 29
(USDOL ETA awarded Michigan the full $7 million on June 18)
- Disability Employment Initiative grant application for $2.5 million, June 10
(Awards have not been announced)
- An application for the Workforce Innovation Fund opportunity is currently being prepared for $6 million, with a July 23 due date.
More detailed information regarding the above grant applications can be found here. For questions regarding these grant applications, please contact the MICA team at MICA@michigan.gov.
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 From the beginning the Baker College-Cadillac Mechatronics Michigan Advanced Technician Training Program – MAT2 -- was a model of public and private partnership. The culmination of months of hard work between the college, local employers, Michigan Works!, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and the Michigan Workforce Development Agency led to the first MAT2 training program being launched outside of southeast Michigan.
As with all successful MAT2 training programs -- the commitment of local employers to invest in skilled trades training to meet their talent needs and their belief in the quality provided by the dual-education, employer-driven model -- was key to the Baker College accomplishment. The program began June 22 with the first eight-week school session comprised of a cohort of 17 students.
In working with the students the first week, Mark Lagerway, Dean of Business and Technology, noted, “We're all impressed with the students the companies selected. They are clearly working respectfully, diligently, and enthusiastically on their first four courses in blueprint reading, electrical technology, gauges and measurements, and industrial math. They are grateful for this amazing opportunity.”
In order to ensure that the students got off to a good start, the group spent a morning of team-building and getting to know one another. The event took place Friday at Kettunen Center in Tustin, MI. The group focused on team problem-solving using ropes, engineered bridges, and more. Working as a team is a key component of the MAT2 cohort model concept where 12 to 15 students start and end their skilled trades training as a group.
Under the MAT2 model, the curriculum is developed with input from industry, the employer pays the trainee’s college tuition, and the college and the companies communicate throughout the 3-year training program. The student attends school and work in alternating periods of 8 weeks. During the first year, the student is at school 75% of the time; during the second year, the time is evenly divided between work and school; and during the last year, the student is working for their employer 75% of the time. Once the student graduates with their associate's degree, the trainee is committed to work as a full-time employee.
Recruitment for new companies is ongoing; companies interested in starting this fall need to sign up by July 31. Along with Baker, Lansing Community College, Delta College, and Kalamazoo Valley Community College are new to MAT2. Lansing will offer Mechatronics and IT; Delta and Kalamazoo will offer CNC. Depending on employer demand, CNC will be offered either this fall or fall 2016.
For more information, contact Valerie Jemerson, Specialist, Workforce Development Agency, jemersonv@michigan.org or 517-373-1201. Website: www.mitalent.org/mat2 Email: MAT2@Michigan.org
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The Michigan Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and partners hosted its MI-AIM meeting at Operating Engineers Local 324 Training Center Sam T. Hart Education Center in Howell.
In 2014 the WDA launched MI-AIM (Apprenticeships, Internships, Mentoring): The Path to Work-based Learning Career Opportunities in Michigan. MI-AIM provides a comprehensive outreach and communications strategy, resources and technical assistance with the ‘aim’ of creating more Registered Apprenticeships while promoting other types of work-based learning. MI-AIM was launched in collaboration with more than 70 partners including the workforce system, community colleges, universities, secondary education, business associations, unions, etc.
Sam T. Hart Education Center is a comprehensive 'training grounds' for heavy equipment operators. They offer Journeyman & Apprentice training. Learn more at https://oe324.org/. Make sure you check out their video gallery.
Check out photos from the meeting on TIA's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MichiganTalentInvestmentAgency/posts/1578859822376026. For more information on MI AIM or to get involved, please contact the MICA team at MICA@michigan.gov
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Join other top Michigan employers, for the Wednesday, August 12, 2015 MiVirtualCareerFair from 10:00 am -4:00 pm EST. Connect with top talent from across Michigan and the globe, without having to leave your office. MiVirtualCareerFair is another great tool by Pure Michigan Talent Connect to bring together Michigan companies and jobseekers! Business in Michigan is thriving, and MiVirtualCareerFairs are the state of Michigan’s hottest new way to find talent. Since 2012, the State of Michigan has sponsored sixteen MiVirtualCareerFair events, connecting over 239 employers and 33,247 job seekers.
MiVIRTUALCAREERFAIR EXHIBITOR BENEFITS
- Attend a career fair without the costs associated with travel, food or lodging.
- Customize your virtual booth to match your corporate employment brand.
- Interact via instant chat with candidates and search for top talent.
- Receive in-depth, post-event reporting, including chat transcripts.
EXHIBITOR RATES
Through July 16th, 2015 – $150.00 (Early Bird Registration Fee)
July 17th, 2015 – July 30th, 2015 - $300.00 (Standard Fee)
All Exhibitor Registration Forms must be returned completed and signed by the specified deadlines.
All Exhibitor Booths must be completed by the booth building deadline: July 31, 2015
All Exhibitors must have a minimum of two staff members participate in their booth through the duration of the event 10AM-4PM EST.
Employers interested in participating in the event must complete a “2015 MiVirtualCareerFair Exhibitor Registration Form” and return it to Jessica Scott at scottj21@michigan.gov. The Exhibitor Registration Form and more information can be found at http://www.michiganvirtualcareerfair.com/
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Asphalt Pavement Association of Michigan: April 21, 2015
View this presentation
Michigan Educators Apprenticeship Training Association: May 21-22, 2015
View this presentation
Michigan Works! Association's WIOA Ready Set Go Conference: June 17, 2015
Business Service Tools: Work-based Learning Models
View this presentation
Data-Driven Sector Based Strategies in a Demand-Driven Model
View this presentation
Industry Certifications: Closing the Manufacturing Skills Gap in the Great Lakes Region: June 17, 2015
View information regarding this event
Michigan Career Educators and Employer Alliance Consortium: June 18-19, 2015
View this presentation
Associated General Contractors of Michigan LRD Executive Committee Labor/Management Symposium
July 30, 2015
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