November 8, 2005

Job Training Will Enhancing Skills of 800 Workers at Downriver Site

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced a $160,000 Economic Development Job Training grant to upgrade the skills of 800 current employees at the United States Steel Corporation Great Lakes Works plants in Ecorse and River Rouge. The funding, provided by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, will equip workers with state-of-the-art training in various manufacturing processes including maintenance and trades skills.

“U. S. Steel depends on highly trained workers to operate its advanced Great Lakes Works facilities,” Granholm said. “This training will help keep its workers current with the latest high-tech manufacturing processes and enable the company to meet the demands of the highly competitive global economy.”

In her 2005 State of the State address, Governor Granholm emphasized the need to make Michigan a global economic powerhouse in the 21st century. Strengthening Michigan’s workforce is part of that plan, with job training one of the tools being used to enhance Michigan’s business-friendly climate.

Under the terms of the award, Henry Ford Community College will be the grant administrator and U. S. Steel will provide a minimum 30 percent funding match.

 “The Economic Development Job Training grant will provide our employees significant opportunities to advance their education and on-the-job skills,” U. S. Steel Great Lakes Works General Manager Frederick Jauss said. “Against the backdrop of the intensely competitive global marketplace in which we operate, this grant will help our employees secure the skills they need to help U. S. Steel remain a world-class, world-competitive steelmaker.”

U. S. Steel manufactures a wide variety of steel sheet, tubular and tin products, coke, and taconite pellets, and has a worldwide annual raw steel capability of 26.8 million net tons.

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, U. S. Steel has domestic facilities in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and international operations in the Slovak Republic and Serbia. Great Lakes Works employs approximately 2,350.

 “We are known throughout the world for our highly skilled workforce, and that’s a major selling point when attracting new investment to the state,” MEDC President and CEO James Epolito said. “The EDJT program ensures that Michigan workers have the training and knowledge that companies are looking for.”

Since 1994, more than $325 million in EDJT grants have helped over half a million Michigan workers improve their skills and enhance the competitiveness of their employers.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation, a partnership between the state and local communities, promotes smart economic growth by developing strategies and providing services to create and retain good jobs and a high quality of life. For more information about the MEDC, please visit the Web site at www.michigan.org.