Forest and Timber Products Industry Regional Skills Alliance

Grant Amount: $90,000

Grant Year: 2005

Service Region:  Entire Upper Peninsula

Convener: Northern Economic Initiatives Corporation

Primary Partners:  Employers (30), Educational (4), Unions/Trade Associations (1), MWA (1), Economic Development (4), Other (11)

Industry Focus:  Forest & Timber Products

Occupational Focus: Loggers, haulers, mill workers, forestry technicians, and foresters

Summary: As the #1 industry in the Upper Peninsula supporting over 200,000 jobs, the MiRSA is working to create a more cohesive and coordinated approach for this industry to identify and address workforce issues.

Michigan Direct Care Worker Readiness Training Program

Grant Amount: $50,000

Grant Year: 2005

Service Region: Statewide

Convener: Michigan Direct Care Workforce Initiative

Primary Partners:Employers (8), Educational (3), Unions/Trade Associations (9), MWA (2), Faith/Community Based (1), Economic Development (0), Other (16)

Industry Focus:  Healthcare

Occupational Focus: Long-Term Care, Certified Nurse Aides, Home Health Aides, and Personal Home Care Aides

Summary: The Michigan Direct Care Workforce Readiness Training Program is focused on increasing retention of the direct care workforce by initially recruiting strong candidates into the field.  This process would include matching skill and aptitude with occupational expectations based upon standards as presented by industry employers and current industry employees.

The Michigan Direct Care Worker Readiness Training Program was designated as a MiRSA just prior to the end of FY 2005.

Midwest Skills Development Center Electrical Line Technician Program

  Grant Amount: $88,000

Grant Year: 2004

Service Region: Upper Peninsula (All Counties)

Convener: Lake Superior Community Partnership Foundation

Primary Partners: Employers (13), Educational (4), Unions/Trade Associations (1), MWA (1), Faith/Community Based (1), Economic Development (3), Other (2)

Industry Focus:  Utilities

Occupational Focus: Electrical Line Technicians

Summary: The goal of the MiRSA is to train students to install, maintain, and operate electrical systems that supply electric energy to residential, commercial and industrial customers, and joint gas and electric underground generation facilities.  Objectives include obtaining gainful employment with family sustaining wages with benefits.



Note:
On October 9, 2006, the MiRSA was awarded a $90,000 expansion grant to address a current and projected shortage of available workers with knowledge of electrical, hydraulic and mechanical systems.  The primary objective is to create an Engineering, Manufacturing, and Industrial Technology career pathway for area high school students.

Upper Peninsula Construction Trades

Grant Amount: $79,977

Grant Year: 2005

Service Region: Entire Upper Peninsula

Convener: Upper Peninsula Construction Labor Management Council

Primary Partners: Employers (1), Educational (2), Unions/Trade Associations (2), MWA (3),

Industry Focus:  Construction

Occupational Focus: Construction Trades

Summary: An effort involving the 15 counties of the Upper Peninsula to inform the future workforce about skilled building trades occupations. They will also promote collaboration between K-12 and post secondary education, industry organizations and labor market exchange resources.

Upper Peninsula Healthcare Roundtable

Grant Amount:  $88,000

Grant Year: 2004

Service Region: Upper Peninsula (All Counties)

Convener: Michigan Works! The Job Force Board

Primary Partners: Employers (23), Educational (2), Unions/Trade Associations (1), MWA (3),

Industry Focus:  Health Care

Occupational Focus:  Certified Nurses Aides, Licensed Practical Nurses, Home Health Aides, Registered Nurses, Medical Coders, Orderlies, and Attendants

Summary: The MiRSA has multiple levels of strategic activities:  marketing campaigns to attract nursing candidates; a campaign for nurses no longer working in the industry to return to the health care field; and developing career progression models with industry partners.  Additionally, the MiRSA is offering career fairs and introducing the health sciences career pathways to youth; providing resources about careers in hospitals in the Upper Peninsula; and accessing value-added services from Michigan Works! Service Centers. Other strategic activities include offering flexible and just-in-time training by education providers on-site and through web-based applications and building coalitions to address regulatory and policy concerns.

Upper Peninsula  - Regional Industrial Manufacturing Skills Alliance

Grant Amount: $75,000

Grant Year: 2005

Service Region: Entire Upper Peninsula

Convener: Michigan Works! The Job Force Board

Primary Partners: Employers (12), Educational (1), Unions/Trade Associations (1), MWA (3), Economic Development (1),

Industry Focus:  Manufacturing

Occupational Focus: Manufacturing, mining, and skilled trades

Summary: Industry partners for this new endeavor have already stepped into leadership roles to identify skill gaps and work with K-12 and post-secondary educational partners.  Articulation agreements are signed and partners are ready to develop curriculum to meet the demands of global competition.

Note:
The Upper Peninsula Regional Industrial Manufacturing Alliance received an expansion grant of $90,000 in 2006. The MiRSA will address a current and projected shortage of available workers with knowledge of electrical, hydraulic and mechanical systems. The primary objective is to create an Engineering, Manufacturing, and Industrial Technology career pathway for area high school students.