August 16, 2005

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today returned to The SOURCE (Southwest Organizations Unifying Resources for our Community and Employees) to update area job providers and employees about job training efforts across Michigan.  The Governor announced that as of last week, the MI Opportunity Partnership program has identified 19,912 specific job vacancies and placed more than 6,600 citizens in good paying jobs across the state since spring.
 
“One of the most critical elements in attracting and retaining good paying jobs is a well trained workforce,” said Granholm.  “Programs like MI Opportunity Partnership and those offered at The SOURCE are an essential means of helping Michigan workers find the job training they need to be successful.”

The Governor first visited The SOURCE in March following announcement of the MI Opportunity Partnership in her 2005 State of the State Address.  Since that announcement, more than 250,000 employers have been contacted and asked to pledge existing job vacancies to help meet the goal of putting 30,000 unemployed Michigan citizens to work this year by matching them with and training them for existing job opportunities.  Currently, there are close to 90,000 job vacancies in Michigan in high-demand fields such as health care and the skilled trades. 

The partnership is part Governor Granholm’s five-point plan to create jobs, restructure and diversify Michigan’s economy, change the state’s business tax structure, and expand access to higher education.
 
“MI Opportunity Partnership is helping people find the kinds of jobs that will never be outsourced, because they must be done right here in Michigan,” Granholm said.  “They are good paying positions with paychecks to support a family.”
 
MI Opportunity Partnership builds on the successes of the thirteen Regional Skills Alliances (MiRSA) established last August.  The MiRSAs, which serve all 83 counties, are working to ensure that job seekers in industries ranging from construction to nanotechnology receive the training they need to compete in the marketplace.