December 5, 2008 – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced a grant to create a new Michigan Regional Skills Alliance (MiRSA^®) to help ensure that workers get the necessary training to do the work employers need done today and in the future.  The Food System Economic Partnership was awarded $90,000 for the development of the Agri-Food Regional Skills Alliance in Southeast Michigan.  The new Michigan Regional Skills Alliance will provide business planning services and training to agri-business entrepreneurs and assist farmers in the conversion of agriculture commodities into consumer products or services to create and expand jobs in the region.

"Diversifying Michigan's economy is dependent upon strong local partnerships including our Regional Skills Alliance," Granholm said.  "The results of this funding will be twofold – workers get the training they need to get good-paying jobs, and employers get the skilled workforce they need to compete in a global economy."  

There are now 37 Michigan Regional Skills Alliances statewide representing a diverse group of industries that include health care, manufacturing, construction, hospitality and tourism, utilities, information security, agriculture and biotechnology. This gives all counties of Michigan access to a Michigan Regional Skills Alliance that together, include hundreds of businesses that employ thousands of Michigan residents.   

Michigan Regional Skills Alliances are regionally and industry-based partnerships comprised of employers, educational institutions, training providers, economic development organizations, and public workforce system agencies.  The alliances are designed to train job seekers for in-demand jobs in their particular communities.  Start-up funding for Michigan Regional Skills Alliances is provided under the Workforce Investment Act through the U.S. Department of Labor.  The Michigan program is administered by the Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG), Bureau of Workforce Transformation.

"These partnerships have proven effective in targeting worker training for high-growth, in-demand jobs," said DLEG Deputy Director Andrew S. Levin. "Getting people trained and back to work to meet employers' workforce needs makes our communities stronger and Michigan more competitive in retaining and attracting new business."

DLEG is the state government agency charged with providing the skilled workforce Michigan needs to enhance and maintain its economy.  Enabling workers to acquire the skills necessary to succeed in today's 21st Century knowledge-based economy is central to Michigan's strategy for economic transformation, and is the foundation for Granholm's No Worker Left Behind (NWLB) initiative.  The NWLB initiative aligns all federal workforce dollars used for worker training into a unified workforce development strategy.

For more information about DLEG, visit the department's website at www.michigan.gov/dleg.  For more information specific to the NWLB initiative, visit www.michigan.gov/nwlb.  For more information specific to regional skills alliances, visit www.michigan.gov/rsa.

Read more Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth press releases.