On Tuesday, August 23, 2022 the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA) Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN) was awarded a $5,820,000 U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) Apprenticeship Building America grant.
“The USDOL has recognized the effectiveness of the formal collaboration between the southeast Michigan workforce system by awarding this grant to SEMCA-WIN,” said SEMCA Chief Executive Officer, Gregory Pitoniak. “This partnership continues to deliver benefits to workers and employers in our region.”
SEMCA-WIN received one of nine awards nationally for workforce training on building and expanding apprenticeship hubs. The WIN network of community colleges and Michigan Works! agencies in southeast Michigan will work toward enrolling 350 pre-apprenticeship participants which lead to registered apprenticeships in traditional and non-traditional industry sectors, such as Healthcare, Government, Information Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics.
“WCC actively engages with the Workforce Intelligence Network and our industry partners to understand and create programs to meet talent needs. We’re excited this new grant will allow us to develop even more education and training opportunities to prepare our students for great careers and to support employers,” said Washtenaw Community College President Dr. Rose B. Bellanca.
A unique outcome of this initiative includes creating a Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) Michigan Chapter, establishing an Intermediary Standards Advisory Council, and developing a Pre-Apprenticeship Training Guide.
“Toyota is committed to investing in education in areas where we operate, including Michigan, to help prepare students interested in being a part of the high-tech future,” said Monte Kaehr, group vice president, Advanced Mobility Research & Development for Toyota Motor North America (TMNA). “We expect this grant will help support the launch and growth of FAME in Michigan and grow the advanced manufacturing talent pool in our area.”
WIN Executive Director Michele Economou Ureste attributes the apprenticeship success of WIN partners in previous federal grants as the primary reason for the new award. Ureste says, “The WIN partners that provided letters of support are the Capital Area Michigan Works!, Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation, Macomb/St. Clair Workforce Development Board, Oakland County Michigan Works!, Michigan Works! Southeast, Southeast Michigan Community Alliance, Henry Ford College, Macomb Community College, Oakland Community College, Monroe County Community College, Schoolcraft College, and Washtenaw Community College.”
“Thanks to the USDOL Apprenticeship Building America grant, Michigan employers are now able to expand registered apprenticeship opportunities in the healthcare sector,” expressed WIN Workforce Program Manager and convener of the Health Career Alliance for Southeast Michigan, Dr. Jan Karazim. “WIN has been convening healthcare employers interested in establishing registered apprenticeship programs for several critical job needs, including a pre-licensure nursing apprenticeship. This new initiative ensures WIN can continue supporting healthcare employers in leveraging USDOL registered apprenticeship as a strategy to advance incumbent employees, as well as attract new and diverse talent to fulfill workforce needs.”
The apprenticeship grant provides $500,000 in training and tuition reimbursement funds, and journeyperson stipend funds through 2026.
“The journeyperson stipend helps small business, non-profit and government organizations build apprenticeship programs by encouraging and rewarding the experienced journeyperson to take on the extra responsibility and duties required to mentor an apprentice,” stated SEMCA Chief Operations Officer, Kate Brady-Medley. “The need for this has become urgent, as many who are eligible to train the next generation of skilled trades are retiring in much larger numbers than can be replaced with current recruits, leaving employers without a critical component for developing the talent they need.”
For additional information about SEMCA-WIN and its partners, please visit WINintelligence.org.
“WIN has spent the last six years building and expanding registered apprenticeships in traditional sectors like advanced manufacturing, information technology, and transportation. With this grant, we will continue as planned and also establish a new focus on apprenticeships for childcare, healthcare and so much more!” expressed WIN Regional Apprenticeship Administrator, Janene Erne.
View the USDOL Apprenticeship Building America press release at dol.gov/newsroom/releases/eta.
ABOUT WORKFORCE INTELLIGENCE NETWORK FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN (WIN)
The Workforce Intelligence Network for Southeast Michigan (WIN) is a collaborative effort between ten community colleges and seven Michigan Works! Agencies, in partnership with numerous other organizations, to create a comprehensive and cohesive workforce development system in Southeast Michigan that provides employers with the talent they need for success. WIN covers a 19-county area, including Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Huron, Ingham, Jackson, Lansing, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair, Tuscola, Washtenaw, and Wayne. WIN was founded with the support of the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan and publicly launched in November 2011 and celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2021.