East Central Healthcare Alliance

Grant Amount: $88,000

Grant Year: 2004

Service Region: Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Huron, Lapeer, Midland, Sanilac, Saginaw and Tuscola Counties

Convener:  Saginaw Midland Bay Michigan Works!

Primary Partners:  Employers (16), Educational (12), Unions/Trade Associations (1), MWA (3), Economic Development (6), Other (4)

Industry Focus:  Health Care

Occupational Focus: Nurses, Certified Nurse Aides, Clinical Technologists, Phlebotomists, Health-Related Therapists, Medical Transcriptionists, and Billing Specialists

Summary: The MiRSA will implement a series of steps, including the Hospital Council Matrix of Academic Preparedness and the Vision 2020 Career Ladders Project to boost enrollment in health care related training.  Colleges will be encouraged to better align course offerings based on employer occupational demand.  Hospitals and other health care providers will be encouraged to increase clinical opportunities.  The MiRSA has also begun a campaign to encourage the return of those trained in the health professions but who are not currently working in health care related careers.

Note: In 2007, the East Central Healthcare Alliance received an expansion grant of $90,000. The East Central Healthcare Alliance expanded into five counties to make the region consistent with the boundaries of the Hospital Council of East Central Michigan.  The MiRSA will be expanding the use of their clinical placement calendar and researching ways to retain retiring nurses as teachers.

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.

Thumb Area Employment Builders Alliance - Advanced Manufacturing Training Cooperative RSA

Grant Amount: $40,000

Grant Year: 2005

Service Region: Huron, Lapeer, Sanilac, and Tuscola Counties

Convener: Thumb Area Michigan Works!

Primary Partners: Employers (40), Educational (13), Unions/Trade Associations (1), MWA (01), Faith/Community Based (2), Economic Development (4), and Other (6)

Industry Focus:  Advanced Manufacturing

Occupational Focus: Incumbent Workers - Customized Training

Summary: The goal of the MiRSA is to increase the competitiveness of Thumb Area employers by providing state-of-the-art training, lean manufacturing, quality standards, professional development and technical skills through a consortium approach.

The Thumb Area Employment Builders Alliance - Advanced Manufacturing Training Cooperative was designated as a MiRSA just prior to the end of FY 2005.

On October 9, 2006, the MiRSA was awarded $50,000 for expansion into other industry sectors excluding manufacturing and health care.

Thumb Area Agri-Business 2100 Project

Grant Amount:  $100,000

Grant Year:  2007

Service Region:  Huron, Lapeer, Sanilac, and TuscolaCounties

Convener:  Thumb Area MichiganWorks!

Primary Partners:  Employers (19), Educational (8), Unions/Trade Associations (1), MWA (1), Economic Development (5), and Other (6)

Industry Focus: Agri-Business

Occupational Focus: Agri-Business training, Joint Venture Development, Transportation, and Sugar Beets

Summary:  The goal of the MiRSA is to accelerate the rate of development and growth of the agri-business industry in the Thumb Area.  Agri-business training opportunities will be expanded to offer non-seasonal training options through strategic partnerships with MSU Extension and other project partners.  Traditional and non-traditional communication methods will be used to promote and distribute training materials.  Research / feasibility studies will be conducted on the use of current or enhanced modes of transportation for agri-business benefit within the region.  Research / feasibility studies on the Thumb Region's sugar beet industry, producer challenges, and diversification will also be conducted.