MCC Partners With L'Anse Creuse to Offer Job Training in Defense Sector

Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel has said he believes Macomb County is poised to become the “defense capital of the world.”

This year, with the help of a $5.2-million federal grant, Macomb Community College, in partnership with L'Anse Creuse Public Schools, will take the first steps toward achieving that title by providing retraining opportunities for individuals to work in the defense sector.

“We have enjoyed a very positive collaboration with Macomb Community College for the past several years, and it made sense to bring the parties back together to provide these essential services during this difficult economic time in Michigan,” said Michelle Irwin, senior director for Community Relations & Programs for L’Anse Creuse, in a release. 

Irwin added that because more than 1,000 jobs directly related to the defense industry are expected to be available within the next three years in Macomb County, this grant provides “the resources necessary to prepare workers to take advantage of these new opportunities.”

“When we look at the advantages we have, hoisting ourselves in this position here with the defense industry that we’ve never talked about … (Wayne County Executive Bob Ficano and Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson) would drool with the opportunities we’ve got,” Hackel said at a seniors’ conference Aug. 4.

With the aid of the grant, which is a multi-county initiative, L’Anse Creuse will offer classes in Information Technology training, basic educational skills upgrades, conflict resolution and employability training and support.

“One of the high-demand jobs within the department of defense is for people certified in ProE, a CAD platform utilized by the military,” Irwin said in a release. “We will be offering several sections of ProE along with Network Administration, A+ Certification, MOUS Certification and Web Development.”

While other post-secondary organizations are involved with the initiative, L’Anse Creuse was the only K-12 district chosen to participate.

“I believe we were selected because we have worked diligently with Michigan Works! for several years to provide training and educational services within our community,” Irwin said in a release.

The grant will also allow for other support services for individuals to ensure proper and quick job placement. These services include basic skills upgrades in math, reading and language, employability training, conflict resolution training and wrap-around services to improve soft skills and help people attain the job.

“When people have been in the same position for a long time, they aren’t always current with various skills they haven’t used for a lengthy period,” Irwin said in a release. “To ensure clients strengthen all their skills, a variety of supports have been put into place to create a more successful experience.”

Classes are free to those who qualify.

Currently, those most eligible will have one or more of the following characteristics:

• Currently unemployed
• Underemployed
• Laid off from the auto industry
• Veteran

To learn more, visit the L’Anse Creuse website or call Annette Rizzo at: 586-783-6330.