As the region’s workforce development agency, West Michigan Works! is dedicated to creating a diverse and qualified workforce. We do this by providing services that help companies recruit and retain talent and help job seekers get the skills and knowledge needed for today’s jobs. Addressing West Michigan's Talent Needs We ...
The Going PRO Talent Fund awards grants to employers to assist in training, developing and retaining current and newly hired employees. The competitive application process opens September 12, 2019. These are five things you must know before starting your FY2020 application: Employers in West Michigan were awarded over $10 million ...
Industry Talent Councils: Collaboration + Innovation = Solutions In a state that boasted an estimated employment growth of over 55,000 jobs last year, combined with a low unemployment rate, what can employers do to attract talent? In this region, West Michigan Works! is addressing the employers’ workforce challenges by convening ...
Firstronic, an electronic manufacturer based in Grand Rapids, assembles printed circuit boards for the medical, industrial, automotive and LED industries. The company has seen steady growth over the past seven years, increasing revenue from $7 million to $70 million and growing from less than 50 employees to nearly 200. To ...
U.S. veterans return from duty with knowledge, skills and abilities that employers are looking for in their workforce. Here are some transferrable skills that veterans bring to civilian jobs: TEAMWORK: Most military activities are performed with the help or coordination of others. Veterans have learned to collaborate with others to ...
The West Michigan Works! Workforce Development Board was presented with the 2019 Trailblazer Award in a ceremony in Washington D.C. on Monday, March 25, 2019. The award, which is an initiative of the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB), recognizes innovation and leadership in developing and delivering workforce solutions in ...
Gina Mancha was displaced from a long career in automotive manufacturing and needed to find a new career. As a dislocated worker, Gina was eligible for services through Michigan Works!. With guidance from a career coach, she completed a career portfolio—a collection of documents that highlights experience, skills and accomplishments—and ...
There are nearly 43,000 Spanish speakers living in Kent County according to the 2013-2017 American Community Survey. To better serve all of the area’s residents, we recently launched a Spanish language website at es.westmiworks.org. Spanish speakers can learn—in their native language—how to begin filing for unemployment and registering for work, ...
Each year during Women in Construction Week, local chapters of the NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction) hold events honoring the role of women in the industry. Chapter #194 in Grand Rapids serves the West Michigan region and hosted the Women in Construction Luncheon on Wednesday, March 6, 2019. ...
WORKSmart is a quarterly email newsletter with workforce development news and resources, events, services and more of what’s happening at West Michigan Works! Did you miss the last newsletter? Sign up so you don't miss the next one! $9.5 Million in Training Dollars Coming to West MichiganThis year employers in the ...