eMacomb - Progress Through Partnerships, Summer 2015

Macomb County Michigan Works! Honored with Association Prosperity Award

Tech-Line Automation and Michigan Works! in Macomb County were bestowed with the Michigan Works! Association Prosperity Award at a ceremony held April 22 in Lansing. This award was established to honor those who create jobs, provide high-quality training, and strengthen Michigan’s talent pool. The award is given to local leaders who are actively making a difference in their communities.

Michigan Works!, in collaboration with the state of Michigan, Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development, and Macomb Community College-MTEC used a team approach to solving the problem of the skills gap for Tech-Line Automation.

State Representative Peter Lucido presented the award and Tech-Line Automation was given the opportunity to share their story on the role Michigan Works! played in the success.

“The programs offered to us through Michigan Works! and its partners provided great assistance in finding, training and retaining new resources in an industry that is struggling to find new talent. The funding opportunities offered assistance at a time when manufacturing is recovering and the need for additional skilled trades is expanding at a faster rate than positions can be filled,” said Tech-Line Vice President Tom Wroblewski.

Local Michigan Works! agencies oversee comprehensive services designed to help employers access a skilled workforce and help job seekers find satisfying careers. Programs also include workshops that prepare youth and unskilled adults for entry into the labor force, and help individuals who face serious barriers to employment develop skills that will lead to economic self-sufficiency. Michigan Works! is a private-public partnership administered locally by the Macomb/St. Clair Workforce Development Board.

Michael Connors, Macomb County Planning and Economic Development; State Representative Peter Lucido; Colin Miller, Michigan Works!; Kristie Betts, Michigan Works!; David Szewczyk, legislative director for Tory Rocca; Deb Ross, Macomb Community College and Daniel Papineau, chief of staff for Senator Brandenburg