May 13, 2004

As part of her seven-point plan for making Michigan an economic powerhouse of the 21^st century, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth Director David C. Hollister today announced a new initiative designed to help employers and workers in Michigan improve their competitiveness and economic security.

The state of Michigan, with assistance from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, will provide one-year startup grants totaling $1,050,000 for the initial development of up to 12 Michigan Regional Skills Alliances (MiRSAs) across the state.  MiRSAs are locally managed partnerships formed to address strategic workforce issues affecting groups of firms operating in the same industry in a specific region.

“We must all work together within our industries and within our regions to identify the workforce-related barriers to growth and to overcome them.  By better understanding the challenges faced by key industries, we can forge solutions that benefit both businesses and workers,” Granholm said. 

The MiRSA approach to workforce development is a dramatic departure from “business as usual.”

“I invite and challenge business and industry leaders, educators, organized labor and economic developers to develop strategies that will focus on developing a highly skilled workforce,” Granholm said.  “These partners typically have not focused together consistently and strategically on workforce issues unique to their respective regions and industries.  By doing so through MiRSAs, they will radically improve the competitiveness of Michigan businesses and of our workforce.”

The Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth will lead the MiRSA initiative.

“Our objective for the MiRSA pilot program is to assist local areas in developing industry-based partnerships that will promote the economic health and welfare of areas’ businesses and workers,” Hollister said.

“Presently, many workforce and economic development efforts are disconnected and are often reactive, dealing with circumstances and needs of individual workers and firms, one at a time,” Hollister said.   “MiRSAs provide for joint problem-solving.  When all firms within a sector deal with the same workforce issue simultaneously, solutions will be better and more cost-effective,” he said.        

Prospective bidders for the 12 grants must demonstrate their credibility with employers.  They must also clearly describe the problem or set of problems facing their regional industry and how their alliance will focus on meeting employer needs and improve the ability of people to gain employment from entry level through senior level. Selection criteria will favor applicants who address a higher number of employers and workers.

Applicants are required to attend a pre-bid workshop designed to bring regional partners together. These workshops will provide participants with the opportunity to learn more about the MiRSA pilot program and ask questions that will help in determining local plans of action.  To register for one of the mandatory pre-bid workshops and download the complete RFP and application along with background information, go to www.michigan.gov/rsa .

Six pre-bid workshops will be held May 19-27 at the following locations: 

Flint
Wednesday, May 19, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Career Alliance
711 N. Saginaw Street

Detroit
Thursday, May 20, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce
One Woodward Avenue, Suite 1900

Gaylord
Monday, May 24, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
M-TEC® @ Kirtland Community College
60 Livingston Boulevard

Escanaba
Tuesday, May 25, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
M-TEC® @ Bay de Noc Community College
2000 North 30^th Street

Kalamazoo
Wednesday, May 26, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
M-TEC® @ Kalamazoo Valley Community College
7101 Elm Valley Drive

Grand Rapids
Thursday, May 27, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Grand Rapids Community College Applied Technology Center
151 Fountain Street N.E.