IN THIS ISSUE:
22,345 Michigan Workers Training for New Degrees and Certificates!
Statewide Waiting List Hits 12,000
What Can We Do to Get Funds for People Who Need Training?
State House Votes YES to Fund NWLB
No Worker
Left Behind
The training needed to succeed in the global economy
Contact NWLB
Ph: 517 335-1319
Email: nwlb@michigan.gov
No Worker Left Behind News
April 29, 2008
22,345 Michigan Workers Training for New Degrees and Certificates!
The No Worker Left Behind numbers from March are in and we have now put 22,345 people into training through the program. That includes Al Obloy from Dearborn, who is studying to be a network engineering professional, and Lisa from Jackson who is studying nursing at Jackson Community College.
Through February, 24 percent of people enrolled are studying for health care jobs.
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Statewide Waiting List Hits 12,000
Demand for training for a better life continues to grow among Michigan workers, far exceeding the federal funds Michigan has received from the Bush Administration.
As of the end of March, 18 of the 25 Michigan Works! Agencies have wait lists ranging from 131 in the Eastern U.P. to 5,810 in Detroit.
Do you find yourself on a waiting list? If so, please don’t despair. We urge people who are on wait lists to work with their local Michigan Works! Agency to prepare now so they’re ready to enter training when we get more funding – as we will! (Read on . . .)
We are pursuing funding on many fronts:
- $15.4 million from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL):
- We put in for an “emergency grant” from the federal government to help offer training now to thousands of dislocated workers through NWLB.
- $13.9 million to train workers whose jobs were shipped offshore:
- We also asked USDOL for an extra $13.9 million under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act so workers who have lost their jobs due to offshoring can take advantage of NWLB.
- $40 million from the state Legislature:
- Gov. Granholm requested that the state Legislature appropriate $40 million of state money to make sure no worker is left behind in Michigan.
- New infusion of federal workforce money coming July 1:
- The federal government gives the states their money to train workers on a July 1 to June 30 time frame. Because Michigan’s unemployment rate has been the highest in the nation for 25 consecutive months, we will receive more federal funds than any other state (besides California) on July 1. So that should cut our waiting list temporarily.
State House Votes YES to Fund NWLB!
In terms of the state Legislature providing funds to help employers and workers do more training, the news is: so far, so good. The state House of Representatives adopted the governor’s full $40 million request for No Worker Left Behind on March 20. Now it’s the state Senate’s turn. A Senate Appropriations subcommittee will hold a hearing on the matter on May 7.
"...In addition to a tough trade policy based on two-way fairness, the next president has to acknowledge that a holistic approach to the global economy also includes home-front help for what amounts to a generation of displaced factory workers. Opportunities have to be established for education and training, and "bridge" help has to be available for those who pursue them. The State of Michigan's No Worker Left Behind program is an example of an approach that can be broadened to other states and expanded, using the nation's community colleges as retraining centers."
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Since I became director of the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG) a year ago, I've had the privilege to help lead the creation of an initiative that carries huge impact for Michigan workers and employers -- No Worker Left Behind, offering up to two years of free tuition…
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With the Big Three on the run and few prospects looking to fill the void, Michigan's economy is in shambles. Lacking specialized knowledge and skills, Michigan's former autoworkers are taking the biggest hit…
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If you have a question, just call the No Worker Left Behind hotline at 517.335.1319 or email nwlb@michigan.gov. A team member will respond to you promptly.
Look for more news about Michigan’s workforce programs in the coming weeks!
Best Regards,
Andy Levin, Deputy Director
Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth
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