Buck Love, Business Retention & Growth
To better reflect the importance of a well-trained workforce and to promote a new attitude of greater training options for more than just industrial manufacturing, the training grant program, known as STTF (Skilled Trades Training Fund), has a fresh new name!
Last year 18 companies in the NLEA region were awarded grants ranging from $1500 to over $68,000 that trained 493 total workers in a variety of industry skills.
The Going PRO Talent Fund (Talent Fund) awards employers to assist in training, developing and retaining current and newly hired employees. Training funded by the Talent Fund must be short-term and fill a demonstrated talent need experienced by the employer. Training must lead to a credential for a skill that is transferable and recognized by industry (WDA Website).
The Talent Investment Agency (TIA) awards the funds to employers through Michigan’s workforce system, commonly known as Michigan Works! Agencies (MWA). MWA Business Services staff conduct fact-finding sessions with employers to assess their talent skill gaps, suitable training providers and availability of federal funding sources. The MWA Business Services staff can then determine whether Talent Fund awards would be appropriate to help close the skills gap. During the application period MWAs submit Talent Fund applications to TIA on behalf of their partnering employer.
Both Northeast and Northwest Michigan Works! Agencies, serving the NLEA’s 4 county region, have scheduled “Going Pro” grant application info sessions to help area employers prepare to submit training grant applications.
Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmet county employers may contact Dave Droste from the Petoskey Michigan Works office at: dave.droste@networksnorthwest.org or 231-709-1419 to RSVP for the August 15 Petoskey Info Session at North Central Michigan College Main Administration Building, Room 122, from 1:30 – 2:30pm.
Cheboygan county employers may contact Amanda Pauly at the Cheboygan Michigan Works office: paulya@nemcworks.org or 989-733-8548 ext.2307 to RSVP for the August 28 Info Session at Cheboygan Michigan Works, 11153 N. Straits Hwy., from 9:00 – 11:00am or for the August 30 Info Session at Onaway Michigan Works office, 20709 State Street, from 1:00pm – 3:00pm.
Want to learn more about employee retention? Call NLEA at 231-582-6482 or email Buck Love at buck@northernlakes.net.
Northwest Michigan Works! Going PRO Training Events
Northeast Michigan Works! Going PRO Training Events
