Michigan Awarded Tri-State Grant To Improve Worker Retraining For Auto Workers

Press Release

The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio are the recipients of a $4 million State Labor Market Information Improvement Grant. The grant will allow the relevant state agencies, including Michigan's Department of Labor and Economic Growth, to collect data on where job growth is occurring and what skills are needed to obtain those jobs. The study will have an emphasis on locating career path opportunities for displaced auto workers in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. The funding for the grant was provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"We need to take additional steps to grow jobs and as we do so we must ensure that training programs are effective for workers transitioning to completely new lines of work," said Rep. Levin. "This grant will also help to flush out the workforce needs of the ‘green' jobs market so we can attract these jobs to Michigan."

The tri-state grant will be used to examine four key areas:

* Auto Industry Transformation -- including the identification of new skills and requirements in a restructured auto industry;
* Supply Chain Transformation -- examining and understanding the new demands and skills within this industry;
* Alternative Career Pathways -- including using jobs in the green economy to help identify alternative career pathways for dislocated auto and auto parts workers; and
* Skills Gap Analysis -- identifying the current and projected skill gaps of the auto workforce, as well as the necessary training needed to transition into green occupations and other high demand sectors.

The State Labor Market Information (LMI) Improvement grant program supports the analysis of labor market data to assess economic activity in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries, and identify occupations and skill requirements within those industries. These grants invest in state and consortium models designed to collect, analyze, and disseminate labor market information, and enhance the labor exchange infrastructure for careers within energy efficiency and renewable energy fields. State Workforce Agencies use this information as the foundation on which to build and implement effective workforce development strategies. Multiple State Workforce Agencies partnering as a consortium use the program to gather information that may have a regional, multi]State, or national impact.

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