August 8, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MCCC, LOCAL MICHIGAN WORKS! OFFICE PARTNER TO IMPLEMENT ‘NO WORKER LEFT BEHIND’
PROGRAM IN MONROE COUNTY

Program a Critical Step in Governor’s Plan
 to Transform Michigan Economy

MONROE, Mich. – Monroe County Community College is partnering with the Michigan Works! Monroe Service Center to locally implement Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s No Worker Left Behind job training program.

The program, which the governor launched last week during a formal announcement alongside the presidents of all 28 Michigan community colleges, is a critical step in her comprehensive plan to transform Michigan’s economy by emphasizing training that links to existing, good-paying jobs.

“The governor told us her goal is to provide postsecondary education programs to 100,000 students over the next three years, and she came to the right source to get it done – Michigan’s community colleges,” said MCCC President Dr. David Nixon.

“For more than 40 years, MCCC has been helping students acquire the advanced skills needed to succeed, and we take pride in how we prepare our students to excel in this global economy.  State officials know that Michigan is in a ‘skills’ crisis, and community colleges are the engine for turning it around.  Michigan’s community colleges are honored to be called upon – this is what we do every day.”

According to Nixon, providing postsecondary education programs to 100,000 students is an excellent start, but state officials believe the demand for skilled workers may be even higher.

 “By 2012, Michigan will have a shortage of 334,000 skilled workers,” said Keith W. Cooley, director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, the state department that is charged with overseeing the No Worker Left Behind program.  Training needs in high-demand occupations vary from region to region and include advanced manufacturing, health care, biotechnology and renewable energy, as well as other growing sectors.

By redirecting federal funds currently used for job training, the No Worker Left Behind program will provide up to two years of free tuition at any Michigan community college, university or other approved training program for qualifying participants.  Participants must earn a certification or degree needed in a high-demand occupation or gain the entrepreneurial skills needed to start their own businesses.

“When we match workers who have lost their jobs with vacancies in high-demand sectors and tailored training programs at community colleges, we give Michigan workers a competitive advantage and give our economy a real boost,” Granholm said.

 No Worker Left Behind partners include Michigan’s 28 community colleges, the Michigan Community College Association, the Michigan Works! Association and 25 Michigan Works! agencies, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, four-year colleges and universities and licensed proprietary schools. 

MCCC and the Michigan Works! Monroe Service Center are working together to ensure that the No Worker Left Behind program is effectively implemented in Monroe County and that as many qualifying community members as possible are served through the program, said Dr. Grace Yackee, vice president of instruction at the college.

Granholm proposed the program in her 2007 State of the State address as part of her plan to transform Michigan’s economy.  Calling an educated workforce the most important element of job creation, the governor has pushed for high standards in elementary and secondary education, a $4,000 Michigan Promise scholarship for every child to attend college, and a new focus on worker training to ensure that every worker has the opportunity to succeed in a global economy.

“To compete and succeed in this global economy, Michigan workers must acquire the complex skills needed in cutting-edge industries that will fuel future economic growth,” Granholm said.  “No Worker Left Behind will make Michigan more attractive to job-creating businesses, and it will get workers and families who have been hurt by globalization back on the path to success.”

Eligible participants include any person who is currently unemployed, has received a notice of termination or layoff from employment or whose family income is $40,000 or less.  Participants must be at least 18 years old, must not have graduated from high school within the last two years and must not be full-time college students.  They have three years to sign up for the program.

In addition to transfer options for those interested in eventually earning a bachelor’s degree, MCCC offers two-year, career-oriented associate degrees and credit certificates that can be completed in a year or less, as well a variety of non-credit programs, courses and seminars for professional development through the Office of Lifelong Learning.

Nixon specifically cited MCCC’s wide array of credit and non-credit health-related programs and courses – such as phlebotomy, respiratory therapy, nurse aide training, nursing, medical  terminology, medical administrative professional, emergency medical technician, EKG technician, pharmacy technician and medical billing and coding.  He also mentioned MCCC’s many industrial technology programs, including a nuclear engineering program scheduled to be launched in the winter in conjunction with Lakeland Community College in northeastern Ohio.

Monroe County residents interested learning more about the No Worker Left Behind program should contact the Michigan Works! Monroe Service Center at (734) 240-7950, extension 7984, or Randy Daniels, vice president of student and information systems at MCCC, at (734) 384-4224.