NEWS

Nikki O'Meara 4/19/24 Nikki O'Meara 4/19/24

Upper Peninsula business celebrated at Michigan Capitol for the 2024 Michigan Works! Impact Awards

LANSING- State leaders this week recognized the economic achievements of the Mackinac Straits Health System at the 2024 Michigan Works! Impact Awards at the Michigan Capitol.

“The Impact Awards showcase the impressive workforce development achievements that take place in partnership with the Michigan Works!’ network each year,” said Ryan Hundt, CEO of Michigan Works! Association. “These successes reinforce the role our network plays in transforming our workforce and the lives of Michiganders. Congratulations to all the honorees!”

Upper Peninsula Michigan Works! nominated The Mackinac Straits Health System (MSHS) for creating a Certified Medical Assistant apprenticeship program. The apprenticeship is a two-year, competency-based program. Each apprentice is required to display proficiency in varying skills and attend 482 hours of Related Technical Instruction (RTI). Upon completion of the RTI, apprentices are eligible to sit for different certifications. To date, MSHS has enrolled six apprentices, is working with their second cohort, and has a waiting list for future cohorts.

The Impact Awards, held April 17th, celebrated the economic impact of newly created jobs, transformational training, and effective talent pipeline development within our communities. Honorees from across the state received awards highlighted by their local lawmakers and state workforce development officials.

Employers and job seekers can find the nearest Michigan Works! Service Center by visiting https://www.michiganworks.org/michigan-works-network or by calling (1 800) 285-WORKS (9675).

About Michigan Works!: Established in 1987, the Michigan Works! Association fosters high-quality employment and training programs serving employers and workers by providing support activities and a forum for information exchange for Michigan's workforce development system. For more information, please visit www.michiganworks.org.

Nikki O'Meara 4/19/24 Nikki O'Meara 4/19/24

Flint/Saginaw organizations and employees celebrated at Michigan Capitol for the 2024 Michigan Works! Impact Awards

LANSING- State leaders this week recognized the economic achievements of local businesses and their employees 2024 Michigan Works! Impact Awards at the Michigan Capitol. Mid-Michigan honorees included Kapex Manufacturing LLC headquartered in Saginaw, and the City of Flint Police Department in Flint.

Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! nominated Kapex Manufacturing LLC for their assistance for over 10 years in providing support to their talent recruitment and retention needs, including being a work site for GLBMW’s Youth Program.

Kapex employee Jeremy Lutze was honored for continuously showing initiative and having a positive impact on those around him as he worked with the Young Professionals Program.

GST Michigan Works! (GSTMW) nominated The City of Flint Police for their partnership which continuously boosts recruitment of new officers. Through this partnership, they were able to create a unique hiring event organized to take place at GSTMW Fenton Service Center.

Now homicide detective, LaShabriane Kelly is an example of a success story through collaboration. She was nominated for her hard work, and highlighted the transformative journey from fear to resilience, ultimately achieving her goal of becoming a detective.

Employers and job seekers can find the nearest Michigan Works! Service Center by visiting https://www.michiganworks.org/michigan-works-network or by calling (1 800) 285-WORKS (9675).

Nikki O'Meara 4/19/24 Nikki O'Meara 4/19/24

West Michigan businesses, employees celebrated at Michigan Capitol for the Michigan Works! Impact Awards

LANSING- State leaders this week recognized the economic achievements of West and Southwest Michigan businesses and their employees 2024 Michigan Works! Impact Awards at the Michigan Capitol. The honorees included Hi-Tech Electric Company, headquartered in Portage, C5 Electric LLC in Paw Paw, and Walters Gardens in Zeeland.

Michigan Works! Southwest nominated Hi-Tech Electric Company for implementing apprenticeship training programs that foster continuous learning, promoting innovation and knowledge within the organization. Hi-Tech employee Austin Edwards joined Hi-Tech Electric through an apprenticeship training program to further advance his career. He was honored for the tremendous strides made in all aspects of his development since starting at the company.

Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren nominated C5 Electric LLC for their profound influence in shaping the landscape of electrical services, setting a benchmark for excellence, and inspiring others to aspire for greatness. Their proactive initiation of apprenticeships demonstrates their commitment to nurturing talent and meeting market needs. Brian Dudasko became an apprentice at C5 Electric in looking for a more fulfilling and successful future for his family. He was nominated for hard work, dedication, and success.

West Michigan Works! nominated Walters Gardens in Zeeland for being a leader in employing refugees through the agency’s Work Experience Program. The company has been instrumental in developing a sustainable agribusiness talent pipeline in West Michigan. Walters Gardens employee Kira Malinina came to Michigan after fleeing the war in Ukraine and West Michigan Works! helped her integrate and begin a new life in Michigan. The agency connected her with Walters Gardens and she quickly earned a permanent position due to her strong work ethic.

Employers and job seekers can find the nearest Michigan Works! Service Center by visiting https://www.michiganworks.org/michigan-works-network or by calling (1 800) 285-WORKS (9675).

Nikki O'Meara 4/19/24 Nikki O'Meara 4/19/24

Lansing/Cement City businesses, employees celebrated at Michigan Capitol for Michigan Works! Impact Awards

LANSING- State leaders this week recognized the economic achievements of Michigan businesses and their employees 2024 Michigan Works! Impact Awards at the Michigan Capitol. Honorees from Mid-Michigan and South Central Michigan included The Woodbridge Group, headquartered in Lansing, and Ross Design in Cement City.

Capital Area Michigan Works! nominated The Woodbridge Group for their work to enhance talent attraction, retention, and development, by engaging with the Business Services Team for recruitment services and the Business Resource Network (BRN) to implement strategies for increasing employee retention.

Woodbridge Group employee Jessica Graff, who hired into the company as a laborer and is now a Team Lead, was honored for working with her Business Resource Coach to find mental health support, improving her budgeting and financial literacy skills.

Michigan Works! Southeast nominated Ross Design™ for working to leverage grant dollars and utilize Michigan Works! services to strengthen the company.

Ross Design employee Oleksii (Alex) Schendryhin, refugee from Ukraine, was hired after receiving high scores on his evaluation after completion of a Work Experience Placement (WEP). He was honored for his success, as well as the company’s, as a Business Services Coordinator and MWSE helped him get a chance at his first job in America.

Employers and job seekers can find the nearest Michigan Works! Service Center by visiting https://www.michiganworks.org/michigan-works-network or by calling (1 800) 285-WORKS (9675).

About Michigan Works! Association: Established in 1987, the Michigan Works! Association fosters high-quality employment and training programs serving employers and workers by providing support activities and a forum for information exchange for Michigan's workforce development system. For more information, please visit www.michiganworks.org.

Nikki O'Meara 4/19/24 Nikki O'Meara 4/19/24

Grand Traverse, Crawford, and Roscommon County businesses, employees celebrated at Michigan Capitol for the Michigan Works! Impact Awards

LANSING- State leaders this week recognized the economic achievements of Michigan businesses and their employees 2024 Michigan Works! Impact Awards at the Michigan Capitol. The Northern Michigan honorees included Roscommon County Road Commission headquartered in Prudenville, River House, Inc. in Grayling, and TentCraft in Traverse City.

Michigan Works! Region 7B Consortium nominated the Roscommon County Road Commission for their Summer Apprentice Program that made it possible for apprentices to work on road projects throughout the area.

Lou Tomma became an apprentice at the Roscommon County Road Commission, and it was life-changing for him. Michigan Works! Region 7B’s Roscommon County Service Center assisted him in getting his CDL-A. He was honored for persevering through roadblocks and received his certificate in January 2023.

Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium nominated River House, Inc., a nonprofit agency that serves victims and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, for continuously helping employees achieve their goals. River House Thrift Store employee Aubrey Zawacky was facing many barriers when she began working with the Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium team. With guidance and encouragement from her Michigan Works! Career Advisors, Aubrey made steady, continual strides in accomplishing her goals. She was honored for her hard work and focus as she accomplished all her goals.

Northwest Michigan Works! nominated TentCraft, a veteran-owned small business with a tradition of high-quality, innovative American manufacturing based in Traverse City.

After arriving in the U.S. Qayum Qayumi and his spouse, Habiba, sought support from Northwest Michigan Works!. They received essential support, including transportation assistance, during their transition to living in the United States which led to a position as a sewing operator at TentCraft.

Even though he’s happily employed at TentCraft, Qayum remains determined to leverage his technical expertise and eventually start his own business. He even presented his future business, Quick Quality Alterations, at a local small business pitch event, inspiring the audience with his entrepreneurial spirit.

West Central Michigan Works! nominated Foreway Transportation employee Brandon Nowak who overcame obstacles after incarceration. Michigan Works! supported Nowak in obtaining his GED and enrolling in a truck driving training program. He earned his CDL and reached his goal of obtaining a job as a full-time over-the-road driver in July 2023 at Foreway Transportation.

Employers and job seekers can find the nearest Michigan Works! Service Center by visiting https://www.michiganworks.org/michigan-works-network or by calling (1 800) 285-WORKS (9675).

Nikki O'Meara 4/19/24 Nikki O'Meara 4/19/24

Southeast Michigan businesses, employees celebrated at Michigan Capitol for the Michigan Works! Impact Awards

LANSING- State leaders this week recognized the economic achievements of Southeast Michigan businesses and their employees at the 2024 Michigan Works! Impact Awards at the Michigan Capitol. The honorees included Henry Ford Health headquartered in Detroit, Ultraform Industries in Romeo, Three M Tool & Machine in Commerce Charter Township, and Taco John’s in Monroe.

Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC) nominated Henry Ford Health for developing initiatives and programs that are responsive to the workforce needs of Detroit’s residents. DESC assisted Charles Simpson in finding a job most suitable for him, as a patient transporter at the hospital. Charles was nominated due to his motivation and drive, which he attributes to Henry Ford Health.

Macomb-St. Clair Michigan Works! nominated Ultraform Industries for its growth to over 100 employees and expanding its training incentives to include a Registered Apprenticeship program. Ultraform employee Jacob Cross was approached about the Tool and Die Apprenticeship Program after displaying a talent for understanding the setups and troubleshooting steps for Ultraform’s vertical forming machines. He was honored for his hard work and dedication to a career opportunity which led him to success.

Oakland County Michigan Works! nominated Three M Tool & Machine for its collaboration in bringing in young talent that has contributed to the growth of the company. Their partnership with Michigan Works! has resulted in thousands of dollars in skilled trades training, which otherwise wouldn’t be possible. Three M Tool & Machine employee Alex Van Den Bremer joined the company as a full-time bench hand upon completing the youth work experience program and was honored for his strong work ethic and willingness to learn right away.

SEMCA Michigan Works! nominated Taco John’s for creating over 30 local jobs and continuously training new team members throughout their partnership with SEMCA. The location in Monroe worked with SEMCA MW Monroe American Job Center to provide job search assistance and internship opportunities for local residents.

Production Team Member Angelica Pittman was a Partnership, Accountability, Training, Hope (PATH) participant at the SEMCA Michigan Works! Monroe American Job Center when she entered the program. She was honored for her display of hard work as she worked directly with a PATH coach to find a job.

Employers and job seekers can find the nearest Michigan Works! Service Center by visiting https://www.michiganworks.org/michigan-works-network or by calling (1 800) 285-WORKS (9675).

Carly Buell 3/22/24 Carly Buell 3/22/24

Michigan Works! Association chosen for first-of-its-kind workplace culture training program

LANSING (March 22, 2024) - The Michigan Works! Association (MWA) will soon be able to offer an innovative new training program for employers specializing in creating a caring workplace culture.

MWA was chosen to pilot the Caring Workforce program, developed by the Chapman Foundation for Caring Communities, focused on improving workplaces by creating a culture focused on caring and communication, in addition to performance. The program partners with organizations to impact collective impact by building leaders with the skills and courage to care in order to transform families, workplaces and communities.

“The Caring Workplace program is about listening and leading to transform workplace culture,” said Michigan Works! Association Director of Strategic Initiatives Natasha Allen. “Our Association is proud to be chosen for to pilot this innovative program and is excited to bring its transformative strategies to our partners across the state.”

The training equips people with the tools for listening, empathy, leadership, care and service, allowing care to permeate every aspect of the organization’s culture and community. The three-phase program builds on individual leadership skill sets by creating an opportunity for new learning. It includes various on-demand courses and learning through different forms such as workshops, podcasts, and videos.

After the success of the pilot, Michigan Works! Association will be able to provide the innovative training to Michigan Works agency staff and employers, transforming Michigan workplaces into more caring settings.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with forward thinking organizations like the Michigan Works! Association,” said Misty Janks, CEO of the Chapman Foundation for Caring Communities. “Their dedication to creating a caring workplace and prioritizing employee well-being aligns with our vision for this program. We believe this partnership presents a unique opportunity for personal and professional growth while positively impacting the organization and its community.”

In Michigan, Upper Peninsula Michigan! Works and Habitat for Humanity of Kent County were also chosen for the pilot program. For more information on the program, visit https://chapmancommunities.org/partner/.

Established in 1987, the Michigan Works! Association fosters high-quality employment and training programs serving employers and workers by providing support activities and a forum for information exchange for Michigan's talent development system. For more information, visit http://www.michiganworks.org, or call (517) 371-1100.

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Carly Buell 12/13/23 Carly Buell 12/13/23

Michigan Works! Association concerned with details of workforce development legislation approved by U.S. House Education & Workforce Committee

Following approval of the ‘A Stronger Workforce for America Act’ by the U.S. House Education & Workforce Committee today, Michigan Works! Association CEO Ryan Hundt issued the following statement:

“The Michigan Works! network appreciates the efforts to strengthen and modernize America’s workforce system, but we have concerns regarding provisions within this bill package that could impact the effectiveness and flexibility of our local workforce development efforts in Michigan. The Michigan Works! Association remains committed to advocating for a workforce development system that is flexible, responsive, and attuned to the unique needs of our communities. We hope to continue working with our legislators and stakeholders to address our concerns to ensure our workforce system can effectively serve Michigan’s job seekers and employers.”

The concerns Michigan Works! has with the bill include:

50% Training Requirement: The mandate for local workforce development boards to allocate 50% of their funding for training presents a significant challenge. This federal requirement could limit our ability to remain responsive to the rapidly changing needs of local employers. Moreover, the lack of a clear definition of what constitutes 'training' under this mandate could lead to ambiguity and inconsistency in program implementation. Our priority is to ensure that workforce development strategies are tailored to local economic conditions and employer needs, and this requirement could impede that flexibility.
Increased Governor's Set-aside for "Critical Industries Fund": The proposal to increase the Governor's set-aside fund by 10% to establish a "critical industries fund" raises concerns about the potential reduction of resources available to local workforce development systems. While the intent to focus on critical industries is understandable, this shift in funding risks duplicating services that are already being effectively delivered at the local level. It is essential that funding remains adequate to support the unique workforce needs of local job seekers and employers.
Redesignation of Local Workforce Development Areas: The proposed redesignation of local workforce development areas is another area of concern. This move could diminish local accountability and stifle innovation, which are cornerstones of a demand-driven workforce system. It is crucial that the voice and needs of the business community remain at the forefront of workforce development strategies. Local expertise and engagement are key to creating effective, employer-responsive programs.

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Carly Buell 11/30/23 Carly Buell 11/30/23

Michigan Works! Association Secures Continued Flexibility in Workforce Development Through Wagner-Peyser Act Final Rule

LANSING, Mich. (Nov. 30, 2023) – The Michigan Works! Association recently announced that Michigan will maintain its ability to deliver workforce development services under the Wagner-Peyser Act.

This pivotal decision, recently affirmed by the U.S. Department of Labor, permits Michigan to continue implementing innovative and flexible staffing models via local workforce development boards, a key element in delivering specialized workforce development services across the state.

The Wagner-Peyser Act, a cornerstone of the nation's labor market since 1933, mandates that states uphold Employment Service programs delivering essential services to job seekers and employers. The final USDOL rule, reinstates the requirement for states to employ state merit staff for program services. Additionally, Michigan, along with Colorado and Massachusetts, has been granted the unique opportunity to persist with alternative staffing models, a longstanding precedent that has been previously approved by USDOL.

"This rule is a testament to the effectiveness and innovation of Michigan's workforce service delivery," said Ryan Hundt, CEO of the Michigan Works! Association. "Our ability to retain the delivery mechanism for locally-responsive workforce development underlines our commitment to evolving and adapting our services to meet the diverse needs of Michigan's labor market."

The Michigan Works! system’s sustained status means continued flexibility in staffing, enabling a more tailored approach to workforce development. This adaptability is crucial for addressing specific local employment challenges and opportunities, ensuring that services are not only consistent and high-quality but also nuanced and community-specific.

"We are excited to continue our work with innovative staffing models that have proven successful in connecting job seekers with meaningful employment opportunities and supporting employers in finding the talent they need," added Marisue Moreau, director with Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium. "This ruling allows us to further our mission in delivering effective and responsive workforce solutions across Michigan."

In April 2022, the USDOL proposed a rule that would remove Michigan’s longstanding workforce delivery model, with the potential to drastically reduce services to job seekers and employers throughout the state. As a result of the proposed rule, the Michigan Works! Association engaged with the state’s congressional delegation to maintain a successful model of integration and positive impact. A statement of support issued in June 2022 received support from more than 1,600 individuals across Michigan.

“I am pleased that the finalized Wagner-Peyser rule continues to allow Michigan to partner with a network of Michigan Works! centers to administer employment services that meet specific local and regional workforce needs,” said U.S. Senator Gary Peters. “I advocated for this flexibility to ensure that the regional and integrated workforce development system can continue to use innovative approaches to benefit both job seekers and employers.”

As part of the final rule, Michigan must participate in a rigorous evaluation of these staffing models, contributing valuable insights into the efficacy of various approaches to labor exchange services. This initiative aligns with the system’s ongoing efforts to advance workforce development strategies and uphold the highest service delivery standards. The rule is effective 60 days post-publication in the Federal Register.

Established in 1987, the Michigan Works! Association fosters high-quality employment and training programs serving employers and workers by providing support activities and a forum for information exchange for Michigan's talent development system. For more information, visit http://www.michiganworks.org, or call (517) 371-1100.

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Carly Buell 10/3/23 Carly Buell 10/3/23

Michigan Works! Association names Rep. Will Snyder 2023 Legislator of the Year

LANSING (Oct. 2, 2023) — State Representative Will Snyder was honored recently as the Michigan Works! Association’s (MWA) 2023 Legislator of the Year.

“Having strong leaders like Rep. Snyder advocating for the Michigan Works! system continues to help our agencies improve and grow,” said Ryan Hundt, Michigan Works! Association CEO. “His leadership has been invaluable, and we are proud to name him as our 2023 Legislator of the Year.”

Snyder was honored for advocating for investments in workforce training development programs to grow Michigan’s labor force. He is focused on giving people access to high-paying, quality jobs to attract businesses by having a well-trained workforce.

Rep. Snyder is currently serving his first term in the Michigan House of Representatives, representing the Greater Muskegon area where he is a lifelong resident. Snyder serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee where he chairs the subcommittee on Labor & Economic Opportunity.

The award was presented at the 2023 Michigan Works! conference in Detroit last month.

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Established in 1987, the Michigan Works! Association fosters high-quality employment and training programs serving employers and workers by providing support activities and a forum for information exchange for Michigan's workforce development system. For more information, please visit www.michiganworks.org.

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Michigan Works! Association | mwassociation@michiganworks.org