EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University President Lou Anna K. Simon today announced the kickoff of the Mid-Michigan Innovation Alliance that will implement a three-year $15 million WIRED grant awarded to the area by the U.S. Department of Labor. Simon also announced that David C. Hollister, CEO of the Prima Civitas Foundation, will coordinate the alliance and implement the WIRED grant.
The Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grant awarded to the Mid-Michigan Innovation Alliance in February is one of 13 grants awarded nationally by the U.S. Department of Labor. A key element of the mid-Michigan proposal is to refocus automotive supplier firms once tied to the automotive industry to emerging and growing manufacturing markets as well as the development of an alternative energy sector, including preparing workers for jobs in the bio-based, post-petroleum economy.
“The bioeconomy will offer new employment opportunities to workers in production, materials transport, environmental protection and public safety,” said Simon. “MSU wants to deploy the expertise of its research faculty – and the engaged outreach of MSU Extension – to help all of Michigan lead in bio-based fuels, chemicals and materials. The WIRED grant provides an important opportunity for worker development in support of that aim.”
Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm, who spearheaded the effort to bring the federal dollars to Michigan, said the grant will be instrumental in shaping the mid-Michigan workforce for the 21st century.
“Michigan’s future is highly dependent on a highly educated, well-trained workforce,” Granholm said.“The WIRED initiative will help ensure that mid-Michigan is a driving force in attracting new industries to the region and preparing workers for the jobs in industries being promoted by our 21st Century Jobs Fund: advanced manufacturing, alternative energy, life sciences, and homeland security and defense.”
Granholm said mid-Michigan is fortunate to have Hollister provide the leadership in his new role as CEO of the Prima Civitas Foundation.
“Dave Hollister’s leadership in our state’s economic development and workforce training initiatives along with his success in attracting two new General Motors’ plants to the Lansing area, illustrates that he is the best person to lead the effort to transform mid-Michigan’s regional economy,” Granholm said.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training, Emily Stover DeRocco said the WIRED initiative focuses on the role of talent development in driving regional economic competitiveness, increased job growth and new opportunities for American workers.
“Mid-Michigan is working to transform its workforce and economy to compete in the 21st century,” said DeRocco. “WIRED is an expression of President Bush’s belief that developing and applying the American people’s skills in productive and innovative ways are critical to keeping our nation competitive in the global economy.”
Hollister, a former mayor of Lansing and former director of the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth, said the WIRED grant provides an important opportunity to capture new employment opportunities offered in the bioeconomy.
“The mid-Michigan WIRED project offers our region a diverse toolkit of workforce development opportunities,” said Hollister. “We need to build a shared vision of the region – and a shared commitment to the region – to make a lasting difference.“
Simon said MSU will pursue those goals of the WIRED grant in two ways. First, media-based training materials will be developed to assist worker retraining on everything from desktop computers to iPods. Second, MSU will deploy actual biorefinery equipment for hands-on experiences – a major advantage for worker learning at every educational level, from high school to postgraduate school.
While MSU promotes the emerging bioeconomy, other partners in the mid-Michigan WIRED team will address employment opportunities in a variety of industry sectors. For example:
- Kettering University will provide teachers with fuel cell training and provide graduate education in hybrid technologies.
- The Greater Flint Health Coalition and Lansing Community College will prepare workers to meet the growing demands of the health care sector.
- Mott Community College will offer training in the building and construction trades and in advanced manufacturing.
- Entrepreneurship training will be offered at Saginaw Valley State University and LCC.
- The “automotive renaissance” will be the focus of the Center for Automotive Research, which also will help prepare Michigan businesses for diversified, global automotive marketing.
Prima Civitas Foundation is a nonprofit organization advocated by Simon and is designed to cooperate with existing development programs to promote the mid-Michigan region.
Mid-Michigan Innovation Alliance includes 13 counties incorporating Flint, Lansing and Saginaw.The WIRED grant proposal was developed under the leadership of MSU, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and the Genesee County Economic Development Agency.
To read more about the WIRED grants to two Michigan regions, go to:
http://www.michigan.gov/cis/0,1607,7-154--137670--,00.html.
###
Michigan State University has been advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research and outreach for 150 years. MSU is known internationally as a major public university with global reach and extraordinary impact. Its 15 degree-granting colleges attract scholars worldwide who are interested in combining education with practical problem solving.