House Democrats know that worker retraining programs are more important than ever as Michigan struggles with record unemployment, an evolving auto industry and a lingering national recession.
That's why they're working hard to ensure that the No Worker Left Behind (NWLB) (www.michigan.gov/nwlb) program helps as many of Michigan's unemployed or underemployed residents, including laid-off autoworkers, as possible.
The program gives workers whose skills are no longer in demand the opportunity to attend an approved training program, community college or university free for two years. Nearly 65,000 Michigan residents have enrolled in NWLB since it started in 2007, training for jobs in high-demand fields such as advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, health care, biotechnology and homeland security.
"As we work to create more good-paying jobs, we also have to make sure we're providing our displaced workers with the targeted training they need to move into good-paying jobs that are already available," said State Representative Richard E. Hammel (Mt. Morris Township), who has championed NWLB in his leadership role on the Appropriations Committee. "Closing this skills gap is the fastest way to help Michigan's working families improve their lives."
Responding to the rapidly increasing demand for renewable energy, No Worker Left Behind has created the Green Jobs Initiative, using $6 million in federal funding to focus on training Michigan residents for jobs in one of the world's fastest-growing industries.
"The No Worker Left Behind program is getting thousands of Michigan workers back on the job," Hammel said. "It also provides our businesses with the well-trained workforce they need to contribute to local and regional economic growth in Michigan."