Area manufacturers whose future is tied training up new employees will likely be pleased with a new State program unveiled today, fueled by a big Federal grant. Governor Whitmer annunced that the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) has been awarded a $10 million federal grant to support the state’s registered apprenticeship expansion efforts and increase employment opportunities for Michiganders.
“As we put Michigan back to work, Registered Apprenticeship programs offer on-ramps to high-demand, high-skill careers, and in Michigan we have committed to expanding these educational opportunities to ensure more Michiganders can get good-paying jobs,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “Increasing access to education and training opportunities will help us achieve our 60 by 30 goal to have 60% of Michigan’s adult with post-secondary education or skills training by 2030, improve the quality of life and help Michiganders secure good-paying jobs, and ensure businesses have the workforce they need to succeed and grow our economy.”
The tool and die and plastic injection mold industries, as well as construction trades are especially dependent on apprenticeship programs. So they are likely to benefit longterm from today’s announcement.
Grant funds will be used to establish the Michigan Statewide Targeted Apprenticeship Inclusion & Readiness System (MiSTAIRS) a partnership of LEO, the Michigan Works! network, and several other agencies including labor and associated contractors. MiSTAIRS will focus on those most severely impacted by COVID-19 and expand registered apprenticeship opportunities for women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, and those without a high school equivalency diploma or equivalent.
MiSTAIRS will enable more than 1,640 workers to enroll in Registered Apprenticeship programs over a four-year period in sectors that include advanced manufacturing, construction, energy, healthcare, information technology and mobility – helping to secure Michigan’s short-term economic recovery and long-term success.
Michigan was one of just 15 states to receive a State Apprenticeship Equity, Expansion and Innovation grant award and one of 5 states to receive a maximum $10 million award from the U.S. Department of Labor.
State Apprenticeship Expansion and MiSTAIRS align with Michigan’s Sixty by 30 goal to increase the number of working-age adults with a skill certificate or college degree to 60% by 2030.
