Kalamazoo-St. Joseph/ Michigan Works!

The Kalamazoo-St. Joseph Workforce Development Board announces the availability of funds to train workers currently employed by local, private companies in the manufacturing, health care, and service industries including advanced manufacturing, life sciences, technology, homeland security, and/or defense, and alternative energy. The Employee Enhancement Program is designed to avert layoffs and create career advancement opportunities for workers.

The Kalamazoo-St. Joseph Michigan Works! has $148,532 available to fund the training and is currently accepting applications.

The application deadline is Monday December 3, 2007, by 4 p.m.

With the high cost of hiring and training new employees, it is more effective to invest in training current employees to prepare them for new positions within a company. The Employee Enhancement Program will fund 100% of employee training costs with up to $3,500 per employee and a maximum grant of $15,000. This funding is available for training that already exists through community colleges or other training institutions. If customized training is necessary to meet the company's needs, the costs for that training will be shared equally between the employer and the Kalamazoo/St. Joseph Michigan Works!

This program has been a "windfall" to several businesses in the Kalamazoo/St. Joseph County area. Since 2003, the program has served 36 area businesses, training over 1,000 employees. The program has sponsored over 50 different training courses in areas such as computer skills, process improvement, ISO 9000, project management, and lean manufacturing. Michigan Works! can assist your company in building a well-trained workforce, allowing you to maintain a competitive edge in the current economy. Michigan Works! is a customer-focused workforce development system that meets the needs of employers. Assistance is available to employers and job seekers to ensure that employers are provided with a supply of skilled workers, and individuals are provided with an opportunity to advance their knowledge and skills to achieve economic self-sufficiency. Michigan Works! receives funding from federal and state governments through the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth.

For more information about the Employee Enhancement Program, contact Ben Damerow, Michigan Works! Employment and Training Specialist, at 269-385-0474. Information and applications are also available on the Michigan Works! website: http://www.upjohninstitute.org/miworks/index.html

2007/08 Forms and Application