The ongoing efforts of the Kinexus Group to support the manufacturers of Michigan’s Great Southwest will get another major boost from the Michigan Talent Investment Agency as they work to address critical workforce needs throughout the region.
Team Kinexus is one of 10 regional agencies and organizations across the state sharing in more than $1.4-million in grant money designated for establishing employer-led collaboratives in a variety of industries across the state.
In an effort to bring together employers, educators, and workforce partners to create solutions to fill identified talent gaps in a variety of industries, the Talent Investment Agency’s Workforce Development Agency recently awarded approximately $1.4 million to those 10 organizations, including $200,000 each to Kinexus Group for their Berrien, Cass, Van Buren Workforce Development Board, and the Michigan Works! Southwest unit for the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research in Kalamazoo, Branch, Calhoun and St. Joseph Counties.
The grant will be used by Kinexus Group for a manufacturing collaborative, while the Michigan Works! Southwest team will use their’s for collaboratives in both the healthcare and manufacturing sectors.
On April 1, 2019, the Workforce Development Agency released a Request for Proposals to develop and launch new employer-led collaboratives, or to revitalize existing employer-led collaboratives, under the agency’s Michigan Industry Cluster Approach 2.0 (MICA 2.0).
An employer-led collaborative is a group of employers within a single industry, or geographic area, that have agreed to come together to solve a common, or shared, workforce challenge. Employer-led collaboratives are poised to address a wide variety of issues, including:
- Talent recruitment
- Creating customized training programs including apprenticeships
- Providing support services, such as transportation and childcare, financial planning education, and success coaching to enhance retention and career mobility
Stephanie Beckhorn is Acting Director of the Talent & Economic Development Department of Michigan. She says, “These grants will fund innovative solutions that support Governor Whitmer’s jobs plan that is focused on creating more opportunities for Michigan residents to develop high-wage skills.” Beckhorn notes, “Talent gap shortages are handled more efficiently through multi-company, industry-focused recruitment and training efforts. The collaboratives provide employers with the opportunity to make an investment in the workforce, train individuals in the skills they need to make their business successful and create a pipeline of talent that can continue to progress within their career pathway.”
Industry sector partnerships bring together employers, education and training institutions, workforce development organizations, economic development organizations, community-based organizations, and government to formulate recruitment, training and education solutions to fill identified talent gaps within high-demand occupations. The partnerships are focused on initiatives that are demand-driven where there are, or will be, significant job openings with high earning potential. Some of the industries where these job openings exist include agriculture, construction, energy, healthcare, hospitality, information technology, manufacturing, mobility, and professional business trades.
There are currently over 40 formally identified industry cluster groups throughout Michigan. The Workforce Development Agency develops statewide policy and provides technical assistance to support employer-led collaborative activities.
TIA is the agency that combines Michigan Unemployment Insurance and Workforce Development, and is responsible for their activities. Businesses need a talented workforce. Workers need the right skills to compete for available jobs. TIA programs are focused on job preparedness, career-based education, worker training, employment assistance and unemployment insurance.
