Adrian, MI – The Talent and Economic Development Department of Michigan recently awarded Lenawee Now and the Align Lenawee Talent Consortium with a grant totaling $788,976 to develop a competency-based certificate program. The Marshall Plan for Talent grants are competitive funds that can be used to create curriculum, certification programs, pilot programs, and more.
In collaboration with the Lenawee Intermediate School District, Adrian College, Jackson College, Siena Heights University, other local school districts, and employers, the grant will enable educators to implement new certificate programs at the high school and college level. Several opportunities will also be developed to engage students and educators in specialized training experiences with local businesses.
“This program will benefit our educators and employers in Lenawee County and is a demonstration of the benefits of collaboration,” said Jim Van Doren, Executive Director for Lenawee Now. “With all of us coming together to work toward a common purpose, we are creating and sustaining jobs here in our communities as well as increasing our pool of talented employees throughout the county.”
The goal of the new initiative is to help students acquire additional marketable and transferable skills that employers desire as well as strengthening current training programs and creating new ones.
High school students will have new opportunities to acquire specific types of training including a CTE accounting program at the LISD TECH Center, a cybersecurity course at Clinton High School, and a project management certificate program available to all students as an elective.
Adrian College will create certificate programs in accounting and project management as well as developing an applied computing certificate program with Google.
Students at Siena Heights University (SHU) will also see new certificate programs in accounting and project management. Additionally, SHU will develop an IT/data management certificate.
Jackson College will design an entrepreneurship certificate program as well offer accounting and project management certifications.
Align Lenawee, an initiative of Lenawee Now, will identify engage employers to facilitate project-based learning activities and will facilitate the creation of summer externship opportunities for Lenawee County teachers.
“We’re excited about this unique opportunity for students in Lenawee County,” said Mark Haag, Superintendent of the Lenawee Intermediate School District. “This grant will provide our high school students with the ability to start a career pathway in high school and continue that path either into a local college program or the workforce, all right here in Lenawee County. It also will give local teachers the chance to have externships with local businesses.”
Align Lenawee and educators worked with employers to identify key areas of focus for the certifications and learning experiences included in the grant to ensure the programs meet their workforce needs. Align Lenawee is a collaboration of employers, educators, economic developers, and business professionals that is focused on educating students on the career opportunities available in Lenawee County.
*Media in this post courtesy of a press release from Lenawee Now, and their Facebook page*
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