LANSING – State Representative Dian Slavens (D-Canton) on Thursday voted for a plan to retrain thousands of Michigan's displaced workers so they can land good-paying jobs available now in high-demand fields. The legislation leverages a $38 million federal investment in the No Worker Left Behind (NWLB) program, which will significantly increase the state's capacity to match Michigan residents with available jobs.
"Michigan's workers are second to none, and in these turbulent economic times, it's more important than ever that we stand by them," said Slavens, who sponsored ground-breaking legislation expanding Michigan's advanced battery tax credits to help land more than $3 billion in investments by seven world-class advanced battery companies that will create more than 6,600 jobs in Michigan. "This investment will serve as a much-needed lifeline for thousands of our hard-working men and women right here in Southeast Michigan. Good-paying jobs are available in growing industries like alternative energy and health care, and we have to make sure our residents have the skills they need to obtain these jobs."
The federal funding that the House approved Thursday would provide $18.6 million to help retrain more than 4,200 workers in Southeast Michigan.
Through NWLB, eligible Michigan workers can attend a community college or university tuition-free for two years to upgrade their skills so they can get good-paying jobs available in high-demand fields. The federal funds will allow NWLB to train more workers and shorten the waiting lists that have formed statewide. NWLB is recognized nationally as one of the best programs providing workers with retraining and available jobs in new fields.
The $38 million comes on the heels of other House efforts to help displaced workers and boost retraining. Since NWLB began in 2007, more than 102,000 residents have enrolled in the program.