Michigan Works! West Central

Workforce Connection - Vol. 4, Ed. 2

Michigan Works! West Central's Business Services team leads a Going PRO Talent Fund webinar in the fall for employers wanting to apply. Eleven employers from our region will receive awards for FY24 Cycle I .

Going PRO Talent Fund

Winners Announced!

11 Local Businesses To Receive Training Funding

The state of Michigan now offers two Going PRO Talent Fund application periods each year. A total of 11 companies from Michigan Works! West Central's six-county region are being awarded Going PRO Talent Fund awards in FY24 Cycle I, receiving a total of more than $534,400 to train 1,917 employees and new hires.

Statewide, a total of $45 million in awards was announced Dec. 13, to provide training funding assistance to more than 800 businesses.

For more information about the Going PRO Talent Fund, and to find the Business Services Specialist for your county, please visit MWWC.org/goingpro.

MiCareerQuest Registration Open!

Businesses Can Sign Up Now For April 2024 Event!

Attention all employers! MiCareerQuest West Central registration is now open!

Is your business in the Healthcare, Manufacturing or In-Demand industry sectors, or a Training Provider? Then we want you to join us on April 23, at Ferris State University to showcase your industry in front of the next generation of workforce!

More than 1,400 ninth-graders from across our region will attend this one-of-a-kind, hands-on event throughout the day to learn about your company and what you do! Don't miss out on this great opportunity to highlight your business and industry!

For more info about MICQ, watch the above video or visit MWWC.org/MiCQ. Registration is free, but sponsorships are encouraged to allow us to continue to bring this one-of-a-kind career-exploration event to students at zero cost! Click here for sponsorship information.

Thank You For Speaking Against Wagner-Peyser Act Changes!

For more than a year and a half, Michigan Works! agencies across the state operated with the uncertainty of knowing if proposed changes to the Wagner-Peyser Act would upend the way we do business. Finally just after Thanksgiving, we received word from the U.S. Department of Labor that Michigan and two other states would be allowed to continue providing locally-responsive workforce services as we have for several decades!

This outcome was only possible thanks to the thousands of individuals and businesses who added their names to support letters and submitting public comment to allow us to continue this service-delivery model.

On behalf of Michigan Works! West Central and our board members, THANK YOU for speaking up and making your voice heard! ... Your advocacy made all the difference!

For more information about the recent announcement from USDOL regarding the proposed changes, click here. For general information about the Wagner-Peyser Act, click here.

Nearly 250 Attend Reentry United!

MDOC Director Washington Gives Keynote Address At Event

In partnership with Fresh Coast Alliance and the Michigan Department of Corrections, Michigan Works! West Central held the second annual Reentry United conference on Friday, Nov. 3, at the L.V. Eberhard Center in downtown Grand Rapids. About 250 people from across Michigan attended the event, which featured panel discussions, breakout sessions, client success stories and more!

This video showcases highlights the recent Reentry United event in Grand Rapids.

Check out a video from the 2023 Reentry United event.

The goal of the annual conference is to highlight successful partnerships, programs and services that can benefit returning citizens, as well as showcase individual success stories of those who have exited incarceration to find personal and professional success.

For more information about the event and to view pictures, click here. To watch video highlights from the event, click here, or the above link.

Showcasing Success!

Highlighting Success Stories From Region 4A

"Michigan Works! is like a strength builder to me."

Diamond Burrell came to Michigan Works! West Central with a can-do attitude looking for job-search assistance following an extended illness. She was able to find a good job and personal success.

Diamond Burrell's personality and positive attitude has the ability to light up a room! She first came to Michigan Works! West Central with a can-do spirit looking for help finding work after an extended illness.

Thanks to the great work of our Talent Specialists in Baldwin, she was able to obtain a good job and find success. ... Now, she occasionally comes in to visit!

To view her full success story and others, click here, or watch the above video success story.

JOB SEARCH TIP OF THE MONTH

'Use Multiple Job-Search Websites'

There are a lot of job-search websites out there, but that doesn't mean you have to pick just one when searching for work!

Here are some of the most popular:

Pure Michigan Talent Connect
Indeed
LinkedIn
Glassdoor
Job.com
Monster
And Lots More!

Using multiple sites, means casting a wider job-search net.

If you need help with your search, we recommend using MiTalent.org, but 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.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Michigan Works! West Central Staff

Enjoy Holiday Training & Luncheon

At Michigan Works! West Central, we're all about professional development. On Dec. 8, we closed our service centers to learn more about generational workforces and how a staff of all ages can work together in harmony.

We're also all about having fun! After training was done for the day, our multi-generational team took part in our annual ugly-sweater contest, participated in some team-building activities and enjoyed a nice lunch.

Check out some of our photos!

Connect with us online

Visit our Website

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.