“MI Opportunity Partnership has shown that with improved communication and access to necessary training workers impacted by our changing economy can get back to work again,” said Granholm.

“Our commitment to partner with the business community is benefiting workers across our state,”

On May 10, 2005, Granholm launched the Working For Jobs Today! pledge drive, an extensive outreach to Michigan employers that sought to match their job openings with qualified job seekers. The goal was to place 30,000 workers into jobs in one year – however, the milestone was reached ahead of schedule on April 18^th.

MI Opportunity Partnership is part of Granholm’s five-point plan to create jobs, restructure and diversify Michigan’s economy, change the state’s business tax structure, and ensure that the state has a well-trained workforce.

The MI Opportunity Partnership includes a collaboration of the State of Michigan with employers from business and industry; Michigan Works! agencies; health care and the skilled trades; organized labor; community colleges and universities; associations; and Michigan Regional Skills Alliances. In addition to placing workers into jobs today, the MI Opportunity Partnership coordinates an accelerated training strategy to provide new job opportunities in healthcare and the skilled trades for unemployed and displaced workers.  The Working For Jobs Today! pledge drive is just one part of the MI Opportunity Partnership program, which has helped more than 100,000 workers connect with training and jobs in the past year.

“One of the exciting successes of the MI Opportunity Partnership is the unprecedented level of collaboration between all of the partners,” said Robert W. Swanson, acting director of the Department of Labor & Economic Growth. “This initiative has helped strengthen our partnership in helping employers and providing assistance, training, and job placements for workers. Today we work together as a team to better serve our customers – the workers and business owners of Michigan.”

Granholm said the 30,000 milestone is just the beginning for the MI Opportunity Partnership.

“We want all employers to know they can find highly skilled and qualified workers that will help their businesses grow and prosper here in Michigan,” Granholm said. “While we’re off to a great start by placing 30,000 workers, we have already begun year two of the MI Opportunity Partnership. We have the aggressive goal of matching 40,000 qualified workers with jobs in the next year.”

Businesses can pledge job openings at www.michigan.gov/jobstoday or by calling Michigan Works! at 1-800-285-WORKS.

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