$1.3 million in job training awarded to 36 companies in SE Michigan

Governor Jennifer Granholm announced that MEDC will award $1.3 million in Economic Development Job Training grants to provide cutting-edge training in advanced automotive and manufacturing applications for 2,180 workers (and 251 new hires) in Southeast Michigan.

The funding is provided by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) as part of the Manufacturing Competitiveness Program (MCP), an initiative to encourage collaboration between regional employers. This joint effort will help streamline industry-specific training and make the best use of state funding.

Five grants were created  to support training through four academic institutions --Oakland University, Wshtenaw Copmmunity College, Schoolcraft College and Macomb Community College-- and Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, a manufacturing training and consulting service.

The grants are as follows:

$449,995 will be used to upgrade the skills of 569 current workers and 31 new hires at four companies in Oakland and Macomb counties through Oakland University. The companies include:

1. Benteler Automotive in Auburn Hills - 70 current employees, 10 new hires
2. Cadillac Products Automotive in Troy - 19 current employees, one new hire
3. EDS in Troy, which specializes in computer and Internet training - 330 current employees
4. General Dynamics Land Systems in Sterling Heights, which designs, manufactures and supports land and amphibious combat systems for the U.S. Army - 150 current employees, 20 new hires. 

$335,274 will be used to upgrade the skills of 410 current workers and 90 new hires at five companies in Wayne County through Schoolcraft College. The companies include:

1. Ghafari Associates, an architectural and engineering firm in Dearborn - 85 current employees
2. G-Tech Professional Staffing in Dearborn - 139 current employees, 50 new hires
3. Yazaki North America in Canton, which develops automotive electronics - 88 current employees, 30 new hires
4. ZF Group NAO in Northville, which develops driveline and chassis technology - 89 current employees, 10 new hires
5. MJ Industries, which develops automitive assembly equipment in Livonia - 9 current employees

$181,138 will be used to upgrade the skills of 379 current workers and 19 new hires at nine companies in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and St. Clair counties through Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center. The companies are:

1. Advanced Accessory Systems in Shelby Township - 23 current employees
2. CBS Boring & Machine in Fraser, 59 current employees - 10 new hires;
3. JAC Products, which designs & manufactures roofracks in Pontiac - 45 current employees
4. Mueller Brass in Marysville - 28 current employees, one new hire
5. Mueller Impact in Marysville - 28 current employees, one new hires
6. Ralco Industries, which specializes in metal stamping in Auburn Hills - 53 current employees
7. Total Door in Pontiac - 30 current employee;
8. Industrial Control Repair, a robotics company in Warren - 43 current employees, three new hires
9. U.S. Farathane in Plymouth, which develops pastics for the auto industry - 70 current employees, four new hires.

$177,297 will be used to upgrade the skills of 448 current workers and 86 new hires at nine companies in Livingston and Washtenaw counties through Washtenaw Community College. The companies are:

1. Micro Gauge in Brighton - 28 current employees, one new hire
2. Liebherr Aerospace Saline in Saline - 65 current employees, 10 new hires
3. Saline Metal Systems in Saline - 20 current employees, 41 new hires
4. Control Gaging in Ann Arbor - 35 current employees
5. Milan Cast Metal in Milan - 19 current employees, two new hires
6. L3 Communications EO Tech, which develops holographic weapons systems in Ann Arbor - 97 current employees, three new hires
7. Recellular* in Dexter, which recycles & refurbishes cell phones - 120 current employees, 15 new hires
8. Adaptive Materials in Ann Arbor, which develops portable fuel cell technology - 22 current employees, six new hires
9. International Specialty Tube in Detroit - 42 current employees, eight new hires

$148,978 will be used to upgrade the skills of 123 current workers and 25 new hires at nine companies in Oakland and Macomb counties through Macomb Community College. The companies include:

1. Aerotek in Southfield, which specializes in technical staffing - three current employees, 12 new hires
2. Brose North America in Auburn Hills, which manufactures auto seating - eight current employees
3. Cadence Innovation in Troy, which manufactures instrument panels - 10 current employees
4. Cooper-Standard Automotive in Novi - 10 current employees, four new hires
5. Graph-Tec in Pontiac - 8 current employees, two new hires
6. Magna Steyr, which develops auto body shells in Troy - 51 current employees
7. RLE International, which specializes in auto engineering in Hazel Park - five current employees, five new hires
8. Utica Enterprises in Shelby Township - 18 current employees
9. RCO Engineering in Roseville - 10 current employees, two new hires

Since 1994, MEDC has awarded more than $339 million in EDJT grants, providing and upgrading the skills of 610,000 Michigan workers.

Source: MEDC

 *Recellular was profiled in the metromode article: ReCellular Rings Green