No Worker Left Behind News
December 4, 2007
IN THIS ISSUE:
Training Numbers Keep Growing
U.P. Machinist Changes Careers Through NWLB
Entrepreneurial Training - Part of NWLB
Reauthorizing Trade Adjustment Assistance
No Worker Left Behind and Michigan’s Workforce in the News
NWLB Speaking Engagements and Interviews
Friends:
Here’s the latest news on Governor Granholm’s No Worker Left Behind (NWLB) initiative and complementary programs.
NWLB has received a tremendous response from the public. We have over 7,000 participants enrolled in training through October, the third full month of NWLB. It’s a great start but we will have to pick up the pace to reach our goal of 100,000 in three years.
U.P. Machinist Changes Careers Through NWLB
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On August 15, 2007 in Escanaba, Lieutenant Governor John Cherry kicked off No Worker Left Behind in the Upper Peninsula. Standing with him was Andrew Flagstadt, one of the first NWLB participants. Andrew was laid off from his job in a machine shop and decided to make a career change. With the assistance of the local Michigan Works! office and the NWLB initiative, Andrew enrolled in nursing school. We found out Andrew is doing very well in his classes and actually enjoys being back in school. “It’s amazing how fun college can be when you’re interested in what you are learning,” Andrew remarked. |
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“NWLB is allowing Michigan workers the opportunity to pursue their education and find jobs,” commented Orrin Bailey, Director of The Job Force Board, the local Michigan Works! Agency for Andrew’s area. “By increasing the skills of our workforce, the No Worker Left Behind initiative allows our existing businesses to grow, promotes new business development and entrepreneurship and helps our businesses and workers make a successful transition to new markets, new jobs, and the new economy.”
We wish Andrew the best of luck in pursuit of his LPN credential and in achieving his ultimate goal of becoming an RN.
Entrepreneurial Training - Part of NWLB
Have you lost your job or are you stuck in a low wage job and the next step you’d really like to take is to start your own business? Doing so takes guts and lots of hard work, but it just might be the best thing for you and for Michigan’s economy, too!
Small businesses account for most of the jobs being created in this country and in this state. What is more, sole proprietorships and very small businesses (those with one to four employees) represent about 60% of new firms formed each year. At the same time, up to 80% of new businesses fail in their first few months or years. Many people who start a business lack the preparation necessary to succeed.
If you think you might want to start a business but want to maximize your chances of success, NWLB might be able to help! NWLB is one of the first initiatives in the country to target entrepreneurship education for workers seeking a new start. The Career Education Consumer Report (CECR) lists about 37 programs with an entrepreneurial focus through 19 training providers. Qualified NWLB participants might be able to attend one of these programs. To learn more about entrepreneurship courses in Michigan, click on the following link, type “entrepreneur” in the keyword space, and hit search! http://www.mycareereducation.org/keysearch.asp
Reauthorizing Trade Adjustment Assistance
On October 31, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Trade Adjustment and Globalization Act of 2007. The bill is now being considered by the Senate’s Committee on Finance. If enacted as proposed, the Trade Adjustment and Globalization Act would extend trade adjustment assistance to service workers for the first time and cover manufacturing workers, as well. Much more funding would be dedicated to training. Impacted workers could qualify for extended financial support while in longer term training and there would be reforms to Unemployment Insurance. The bill also includes a package of tax incentives designed to encourage the redevelopment of communities that have suffered substantial reductions in manufacturing employment. Dubbed Manufacturing Redevelopment Zones, the concept would be similar to current empowerment zones and may be very beneficial to Michigan communities.
This legislation is extremely important to the State of Michigan. For fiscal year 2007 Michigan received $25.5 million in TAA from the DOL second only to North Carolina’s $26.1 million. Over 16,000 Michigan workers received assistance and 5,400 participated in training. Far more people could have been served if the process was streamlined and funding allocated to the states that need it. The new bill would double funding, target it better, and make many significant administrative improvements. This overhaul of the Trade Adjustment Assistance program would provide a tremendous new resource for helping Michigan workers through NWLB.
No Worker Left Behind in the News
Interview with Governor Jennifer Granholm; Governing.com
http://www.governing.com/articles/10granholm.htm
Labor director talks about Michigan jobs; The North Wind Online, The Student Newspaper of Northern Michigan University
http://www.thenorthwindonline.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&uStory_id=db8fd4c2-20a3-4a10-8865-1fa77d27441e
NURSING AMBITIONS, In Shift, Auto Workers Flee to Health-Care Jobs, Many Seek New Starts In Field That Bled Big 3; Detroit's Next Migration; The Wall Street Journal online
http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB118947456678423358.html
Click on the following link to see Director Cooley’s interview at the Upper Great Lakes Economic and Workforce Development Summit. It will take a few minutes to load.
http://www.jobforce.org/media.html
NWLB Speaking Engagements and Interviews
December 5, 2007 WLNS TV6 Interview with Tyrone Bynum
December 14, 2007 Detroit News Interview
December 18, 2007 NWLB Editorial Board Meeting at Battle Creek Enquirer
December 20, 2007 Interview with Rev Peek WGDR
January 10, 2008 Troy Business and Education Round Table (TBERT)
January 28, 2008 Townhall meeting – Monroe
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
P.S. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter please click on the following link, insert the required information and check the “Delete me from the list:” box.
http://www.michigan.gov/nwlb/0,1607,7-242--167647--,00.html