Lahti Praises $530K for Western U.P. Michigan Works! job training

LANSING -- State Representative Mike Lahti (D-Hancock) recently applauded a $530,000 state grant that will help Western U.P. Michigan Works! continue to provide funding for job training for displaced workers.

State Representative Mike Lahti (D-Hancock), right, presents a tribute to retired Western U.P. Michigan Works! Director Jim Saari on Oct. 23. Lahti thanked Saari for his 35 years of dedication and service to U.P. residents. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo courtesy Mike Lahti)

"Too many of our hard-working men and women are losing their jobs due to downsizing and outsourcing, and oftentimes are unable to land another job," Lahti said. "Michigan has been one of the states hit hardest by this recession, and we must help our unemployed residents get back on the job and back on their feet. This training will help give our workers the new skills they need to compete for good-paying jobs."

Western U.P. Michigan Works! has seen an overwhelming number of residents seeking assistance through Michigan's No Worker Left Behind Program, which enables workers to acquire the skills necessary to succeed in the fast-changing 21st century global economy.

The office had enough funding to help students pay for their first semester of training and enough for nearly one-third of the requests for the second semester. The $530,000 grant will help Michigan Works! fill the second-semester funding gap, allowing students to remain in school.

The funding will also help to restore all certified nurse aide training courses in the region, and provide on-the-job training assistance to new employees at CertainTeed in L'Anse.

"Michigan needs the highly skilled workforce that will attract new and emerging industries and good-paying jobs," Lahti said. "My top priority is getting our U.P. workers back to work as quickly as possible, and this funding will help give them the training and skills they need to fill the jobs that are available now."