WCC part of consortium awarded $10M for workforce training
Washtenaw Community College is part of a consortium awarded a $10 million grant from the United States Department of Labor to invest in workforce training.
Officials from the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA) and Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN) announced they had received a Building the Industry Infinity Supply Chain grant.
WCC is one of eight community colleges and six workforce agencies that make up the Workforce Intelligence Network.
The grant will support robotics and automation training, the Michigan Alliance for Greater Mobility Advancement collaborative, cybersecurity training, a transportation collaborative with the Michigan Department of Transportation and delivery of transportation-related training programs.
WCC Associate Vice President of Workforce and Community Development Brandon Tucker said funding appropriated to the college will be used for development of certificate training programs for middle- and high-skilled occupations in Manufacturing, Information Techhnology, Cybersecurity and Transportation Technologies.
“We are excited to be part of this grant, which will supplement the workforce development efforts WCC provides to Washtenaw County and southeastern Michigan,” Tucker said. “We’ll develop innovate training strategies and delivery methods to help upskill individuals in the region.”
SEMCA serves as grantee and is the fiscal agent, though CEO Gregory Pitoniak credits the WIN staff with substantial effort in the proposal process, “once again demonstrating the tangible value this partnership brings to our region.”
The $10 million grant is a portion of a larger $145 million award to workforce programs nationwide.
The community colleges in the WIN consortium include WCC, Henry Ford College, Monroe County Community College, Mott Community College, Oakland Community College, Schoolcraft College and Wayne County Community College District.
Workforce agencies in the consortium include Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation, GST Michigan Works, Macomb/St. Clair Workforce Development Board, Michigan Works Southeast, Oakland County Michigan Works and SEMCA Michigan Works.
