Students who are engaged in both skilled manufacturing trades and construction trades at Lake Michigan College will be among the nearly 400 Michigan job-seekers who will get apprenticeship readiness training from the Michigan Talent Investment Agency. The LMC students will share in and overall pot of more than $1.8-million in the grant initiative.
Those job-seekers will receive apprenticeship readiness training to prepare them to enter, and succeed in, Registered Apprenticeship programs through the more than $1.8 million in grants. Going PRO Apprenticeship Readiness Initiative grants were recently awarded to 11 Michigan Works! Agencies, colleges and non-profit organizations across the state, including LMC.
Lake Michigan College specifically will get $180,000 for manufacturing and construction trades training programs.
Wanda Stokes is Director at the Talent Investment Agency. She says, “Apprenticeship Readiness programs build the literacy, math, and work-readiness skills employers require for individuals to successfully enter into Registered Apprenticeships.” She adds, “The training provided will ensure Michigan employees have the skills required for in-demand jobs and employers have the professional talent they need to grow and thrive.”
The Going PRO Apprenticeship Readiness initiative was established to expand and diversify Michigan Registered Apprenticeships, including the Michigan Advanced Technician Training (MAT2) Program. MAT2 addresses two critical issues facing the manufacturing and technology industries: a widening skills gap and an aging workforce by combining theory, practice and work to train a globally competitive workforce.
Stokes tells us, “This initiative is consistent with Governor Rick Snyder’s vision to promote high-paying, high-demand, careers available in the professional trades.” She notes, “By providing both classroom instruction and on-the-job training, apprenticeship programs serve a vital role by preparing workers for critical occupations in Michigan’s labor market.”
A significant professional trades shortage exists in Michigan and is expected to continue through 2024. Professional trades will account for more than 500,000 jobs in Michigan’s economy, and approximately 15,000 new job openings are expected annually in the state during that time frame. Opportunities exist in a variety of emerging industries including IT, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, construction and automotive.
Recruitment and training for these apprenticeship readiness opportunities will take place between now and September 30, 2018. Industry focus is based on employer demand and varies by program location.
These programs not only train skilled workers for the Michigan labor market, but they also offer Michigan workers high-wage, high-demand job opportunities that do not require a bachelor’s degree. Between fiscal year 2008 and 2017, the number of active registered apprentices in Michigan grew from 3,132 to 15,304, demonstrating a growth rate of almost 500 percent in this supply of skilled workers over nearly a decade.
Following are the Going PRO Apprenticeship Readiness initiative grantees:
- Baker College of Cadillac…Industry Focus: Mechatronics…$172,209
- Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation…Industry Focus: Construction/Electrical…$180,000
- Focus: HOPE…Industry Focus: Manufacturing…$130,722
- Genesee Shiawassee Thumb Michigan Works!…Industry Focus: Construction…$139,346
- Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids…Industry Focus: IT/Help Desk…$179,319
- Lake Michigan College…Industry Focus: Manufacturing and Construction…$180,000
- Michigan Construction Foundation…Industry Focus: Construction…$178,976
- Michigan Works! Region 7B…Industry Focus: Aircraft maintenance…$179,808
- Schoolcraft College…Industry Focus: Manufacturing/Robotics…$180,000
- Southeast Michigan Community Alliance…Industry Focus: Health, Robotics, automation and advanced manufacturing…$163,201
- West Michigan Works!…Industry Focus: Manufacturing…$180,000
The Going PRO campaign is designed to highlight the perception of professional trades and showcase opportunities in a variety of rewarding careers. It is part of a larger effort to transform career technical education across the state, addressing challenges raised by educators, businesses and other stakeholders. For more information about Going PRO, visit the www.Going-PRO.com website.
