LANSING – State Representative Dan Scripps (D-Leland) today hailed the announcement that the state has awarded $150,000 through the No Worker Left Behind (NWLB) program to the Northwest Michigan Adult Learning Partnership for use in adult education programs. The funding will help area residents prepare for post-secondary education and training programs, which will give them the skills they need to succeed.
"I'm very happy that our community will be receiving these funds," Scripps said. "This investment in our workers will give them the training they need to get a good-paying job in growing, high-tech fields. By ensuring that we have a strong workforce, we can make Michigan more attractive to employers seeking to invest in our state, which means more jobs for our workers."
The $150,000 will go to the Northwest Michigan Adult Learning Partnership, which consists of the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments, Baker College of Cadillac, Grand Traverse Area Literacy Council, Michigan Rehabilitation Services, North Central Michigan College, Northwest Michigan Workforce Development Board, Northwest Michigan Works!, Northwestern Michigan College, Traverse Bay Intermediate School District, West Shore Community College and local employers. The Partnership is one of 10 statewide sharing $2.5 million in a pilot project to help prepare adult learners for No Worker Left Behind.
Through NWLB, eligible Michigan residents can attend a community college or university tuition free for two years to upgrade their skills so they can move into a good-paying job that's available now. More than 51,000 Michigan workers who are unemployed or underemployed have enrolled in the program in the first 17 months of the program's existence. To find out if they are eligible for the NWLB program, area residents should visit the NWLB Web site at www.michigan.gov/nwlb.
"As we continue our efforts to attract new industries like renewable energy, advanced manufacturing and others to Michigan, we need to be sure that our residents have the skills they need to compete," Scripps said. "That's why No Worker Left Behind is so important – it gives workers the opportunity to learn a new set of skills that will allow them to move into new fields. This is a great day for Northwest Michigan."