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Michigan Works! West Central
Workforce Connection - Vol. 4, Ed. 1
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Julie Sanders, Michigan Works! West Central Apprenticeship Specialist (left), presents a Going PRO Talent Fund reimbursement check to the team at ServePro in Ludington. This fall's application period opens Oct. 9. | |
Going PRO Talent Fund Application Period Opens Oct. 9 | |
Contact Our Business Services Team for
Help Putting Together Your Application!
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Funding Available For First-Responder Training | |
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Michigan Works! West Central is one of 13 organizations statewide to recently receive funds to expand employer-led collaborative business groups, which work together to identify and solve common workforce challenges.
Our organization was awarded more than $182,000 to expand the successful Public Safety Careers Council of West Michigan, which helps provide training funding assistance to police, fire and emergency medical agencies to attract and retain talent.
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Trainees from the Evart Police Department and the Osceola County Sheriff's Department completed training at Kirtland Community College's Police Academy in December 2022, with the help of Michigan Works! West Central. Check out their video success story above, or for more information, click here. | |
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Since the program started, Michigan Works! West Central has helped 14 individuals receive policing and paramedic training at West Shore Community College and Kirtland Community College. An additional 5 students are enrolled in training this fall.
For more info about the MICA 3.0 expansion grant, click here.
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Working Together to Create an Apprenticeship | |
ABOVE: Michigan Works! West Central Executive Director Shelly Keene speaks to childcare providers and workers who participated in the first meeting to develop a Childcare Development Associate apprenticeship program. BELOW: Michigan Works! West Central Apprenticeship Specialist Julie Sanders leads the discussion during the Sept. 18, meeting, which was held in Big Rapids. | |
Childcare Providers, Organizations Working To Develop Child Development Associate Standards | |
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About a half-dozen childcare providers and community partners gathered at Michigan Works! West Central on Sept. 15, to start the creation of a Child Development Associate registered apprenticeship program through the U.S. Department of Labor. Michigan Works! West Central recently was awarded a grant to support the development of this apprenticeship.
The group will meet monthly through the remainder of 2023, to develop the in-classroom and on-the-job training requirements of the program, as well as discuss common issues and solutions of working in the childcare industry. The goal of creating the apprenticeship program is to help increase access to much-needed reliable and affordable childcare in our region.
For more information about the CDA development program, or if you work in the childcare industry and want to get involved, click here.
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Reentry United Returns Nov. 3! | |
Workers from Across Michigan will Gather in Grand Rapids | |
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Last year, Michigan Works! West Central partnered with Fresh Coast Alliance and OS Reentry Services to host the first-ever Reentry United conference.
About 250 individuals from across the state participated in the event to discuss common problems facing those exiting incarceration, as well as identify common solutions. The event was wildly successful and well-received by attendees, so much so that organizers are bringing it back for a second year!
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Panelists at the 2022 Reentry United conference speak to a crowd of about 250. This year's conference will be held Nov. 3, in Grand Rapids. | |
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Reentry workers from across Michigan will gather for the annual Reentry United conference on Nov. 3, at the L.V. Eberhard Center at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids.
For more information about the event and to view pictures from 2022, click here.
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Recognizing Our Region's Top '20 Under 30' | |
ABOVE: Michigan Works! West Central recognized the winners of its annual "20 Under 30" competition during an awards luncheon Sept. 29, in Ludington. Winners who were able to attend the event include (pictured from left to right) Autumn Deur, Grace Currie, Hannah Drouin, Chris Barton, Brendan Cook, Jenny Herrygers, Rebecca Stead-Choponis and Makennha Squires. To see the full "20 Under 30" publication, click here. | |
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Michigan Works! West Central is all about highlighting success, which is why we release the annual "20 Under 30" publication that showcases young professionals succeeding in their respective fields. This year's publication was released in June, and an awards ceremony honoring this year's winners was held on Sept. 29, in Ludington.
To be featured in the book, members of the public are able to nominate young professionals in our region who are younger than 30 each spring in more than a dozen industry categories. The nominees are then voted on by the public, with the top 20 vote getters being named to that year's list.
To view the full list of the 2023 winners and to read this year's publication, click here.
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JOB SEARCH TIP OF THE MONTH | |
'Don't Limit Your Search to Online Only' | |
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Social media has changed the job-search game. Did you know 73 percent of young adults claim to have found a job through social media?
But, don't close the door on "offline" opportunities. Be sure to attend job fairs, reach out to hiring managers, call a career counseling service and, of course, reach out to Michigan Works! West Central!
Be sure to take advantage of all the job-search opportunities available to you! If you're searching for work online, we recommend using MiTalent.org. We also regularly host employer job fairs. Be sure to check out socials to keep up to date with upcoming hiring events and workshops!
We also can help you with your job search at any of our six service centers. Find the service center nearest you at MWWC.org/contact-us.
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Michigan Works! West Central Talent Specialist Stacey Ringler (center) was honored at the Michigan Works! Association's annual conference in Detroit in September as one of 16 Shining Star Award recipients. She is pictured with Michigan Works! West Central Executive Director Shelly Keene (left) and Workforce Development Board member Hannah Drouin (right), of G.M. Wood Products. | |
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The Shining Star awards celebrate Michigan Works! frontline staff who, through dedication and outstanding contributions to workforce development, personify the Michigan Works! mission. A total of 16 individuals were presented this year's awards during the annual Michigan Works! Association conference in mid-September in Detroit.
From the six-county region of Michigan Works! West Central, Talent Specialist Stacey Ringler was selected for this year's award. Stacey has been with the organization for nearly five years, and works in our Reed City service center.
To read more about Stacey and her passion for the work we do, click here.
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Stacey Ringler as been with Michigan Works! West Central for nearly 5 years! She recently was recognized as a Shining Star award winner as an outstanding frontline worker. | | |
Michigan Works! West Central is funded by State and Federal funds and governed by local Workforce Development Boards and Local Elected Officials. More details available on the Legal Disclaimer page at MWWC.org/legal-disclaimer. Michigan Works! West Central is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Michigan Relay Service: 711 | Supported by the State of Michigan. |
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