December 2, 2005 - Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth Director David C. Hollister today announced the award of $659,602 in grants to create eight new Michigan Regional Skills Alliances (RSAs) that will continue to ensure that all job seekers will be trained to do the work that employers need now and in the future. Michigan now has 25 Regional Skills Alliances.

The alliances are designed to train job seekers for in-demand jobs in their particular communities. In each region, the RSA works with employers to identify their workforce needs. The RSA then connects the employer with job training organizations who prepare job seekers with the specific job skills employers are seeking. RSAs fill employers' needs by providing an appropriately trained workforce for in-demand industries and fills citizens' needs by training workers for jobs that are likely to be open and available. With the addition of the new RSAs, employers and workers in all counties should have access to at least one alliance.

"Michigan needs a skilled workforce to give businesses an edge when competition is fierce and margins are tight," said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, who proposed the Regional Skills Alliances in her 2004 State of the State address.   "Regional Skills Alliances are a way for us to ensure that Michigan has a qualified workforce for Michigan employers and good jobs for Michigan workers.   They dramatically improve the odds that workers can look forward not only to jobs but to rewarding careers in prospering industries."

Hollister explained, "Traditionally, the public workforce system has mostly worked case-by-case to match individual workers to individual jobs.   But when it came to broader workforce challenges faced by employers, the public sector was not well positioned to help.   Regional Skills Alliances change that."   In describing this new approach, he added, "Michigan's RSAs align public-sector resources and find common solutions to shared workforce problems.   This approach gives Michigan a competitive advantage over other states."

Michigan's federal Workforce Investment Act funding will provide one-year startup funding for the new RSAs, 3 of which are located in the Upper Peninsula.   The counties covered by each RSA are determined by the workforce areas relevant to employers, not by artificial boundaries.   The new RSAs represent a diversity of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, construction, forestry, hospitality, and information security.  

The Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth is the state government agency charged with fostering the skilled workforce Michigan needs to enhance and maintain its economy.  To this end, the state's career and training agency is working with employers, K-12 schools, community colleges and local Workforce Development Boards to develop a comprehensive career development system.  For more information about the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth, visit the department's Web site at www.michigan.gov/dleg.

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