Skilled and knowledgeable workers are in demand across many West Michigan industries. Courtesy Thinkstock
Michigan’s Talent Investment Agency has awarded $9.5 million in training funds to more than 200 West Michigan employers.
TIA announced the recipients of its Going PRO Talent Fund (formerly the Skilled Trade Training Fund) awards for fiscal year 2019, and $9,558,593 will go to employers and industry-led collaboratives in the West Michigan region, which covers Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon and Ottawa counties.
Since 2013, the training fund has injected millions of dollars into the Michigan economy for short-term training in high-demand occupations.
West Michigan Works!, a regional workforce development agency, will notify 223 West Michigan employers this week that their applications are being funded in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $289,345.
“The challenge facing West Michigan employers continues to be a shortage of workers that have the skills and qualifications needed to fill current and future high-demand positions,” said Amy Lebednick, director of business solutions, West Michigan Works!.
“These funds provide critical support to our region’s employers, allowing them to remain competitive in their industry and in this economy.”
Jacob Maas, CEO of West Michigan Works!, said the talent shortage has to be addressed by all employers.
“We are grateful to our partners at the chambers of commerce, economic development agencies, employer associations and community colleges for getting the word out and to our staff and employers for their work to submit the most competitive applications,” Maas said.
“The results are exactly what we expected: millions of dollars for training that will truly impact our communities.”
Statewide, the fund is awarding $29 million to 780 employers.
West Michigan grant recipients by county
Allegan
Coastal Automotive, Holland: $5,644
Eclipse Tool & Die, Wayland: $19,500
Ely Manor, Allegan: $21,570
Holland Inc., Wayland: $45,000
K&R Truck Sales, Holland: $33,000
Koops, Holland: $48,280
Material Transfer, Allegan: $9,000
Perrigo, Allegan: $251,391
Ropes Courses, Allegan: $44,670
Stampede Die & Engineering, Wayland: $66,510
Windemuller, Wayland: $128,400
Brenner Excavating, Hopkins: $34,500
Total: $707,465
Barry
Flexfab, Hastings: $41,651
Ketchum Machine Company, Fremont: $9,000
BCN Technical Services, Hastings: $61,064
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, Hastings: $10,500
TNR Machine, Dowling: $17,765
Middleville Tool & Die: $79,234
Total: $219,214
Ionia
CarbonGreen Bioenergy, Lake Odessa: $23,231
Herbrucks Poultry Ranch, Saranac: $214,800
Metron of Belding: $21,000
THK Rhythm Automotive, Portland: $74,688
Lake Design & Manufacturing, Belding: $16,280
West Michigan Fabrication Corp., Belding: $9,000
Total: $358,999
Kent
Hearthside Food Solutions, Grand Rapids: $26,000
Tech Defenders, Grand Rapids: $66,200
Hearthside Food Services, Kentwood: $43,800
Rest Haven Homes, Grand Rapids: $11,200
Michigan Turkey Producers, Grand Rapids: $113,699
Plasan Carbon Composites, Walker: $37,098
VerPlank Electric, Grand Rapids: $3,000
Comfort Research, Grand Rapids: $77,250
Rapid-Line, Wyoming: $45,240
Nucraft Furniture Company, Comstock Park: $44,900
Die Cad Group, Grand Rapids: $58,700
Lakeland Finishing, Grand Rapids: $46,695
Autocam Medical, Kentwood: $93,000
Monroe LLC, Grand Rapids: $45,885
Weiss Technik North America, Grand Rapids: $40,505
HighPoint Electric, Belmont: $13,500
Van Haren Electric, Byron Center: $22,500
Fidler Furniture Company, Wyoming: $5,500
Metron of Lamont: $6,000
HealthBridge, Wyoming: $15,000
Applied Textiles, Byron Center: $46,520
Dennen Steel Corporation, Grand Rapids: $20,915
Mark-Maker Company, Wyoming: $46,600
EDR Pro Installers, Grand Rapids: $22,705
Metron of Cedar Springs: $15,000
Micron Manufacturing Co., Grand Rapids: $25,600
West Michigan Tag & Label, Grand Rapids: $28,500
Eikenhout, Grand Rapids: $15,000
Allied Mechanical Services, Grand Rapids: $51,495
Member First Mortgage, Grand Rapids: $7,064
Global Integrated Flooring Solutions, Kentwood: $2,100
Morrison Industrial Equipment, Grand Rapids: $36,000
Challenge Manufacturing, Walker: $121,500
Action Mold and Machining, Grand Rapids: $52,185
Autodie, Grand Rapids: $106,580
Beene Garter, Grand Rapids: $18,500
Byrne Tool + Design, Rockford: $9,895
Scarlett Inc., Grand Rapids: $7,300
Weather Shield Roofing Systems, Grand Rapids: $12,450
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, Grand Rapids: $101,354
Robert Bosch Fuel Systems, Kentwood: $12,000
Open Systems Technologies, Grand Rapids: $47,640
Bravo LT, Grand Rapids: $35,140
Buist Electric, Byron Center: $139,500
Commercial Tool & Die, Comstock Park: $54,894
Concept Tooling Systems, Grand Rapids: $3,000
CQL, Grand Rapids: $33,949
DealerOn, Grand Rapids: $39,450
MudPenny, Grand Rapids: $10,500
Eagle Industrial Group, Comstock Park: $3,750
Element Four, Kentwood: $13,500
Elevator Up, Grand Rapids: $17,585
Digital Tool & Die, Grandville: $72,500
Founders Brewing Company, Grand Rapids: $18,000
Fusion IT, Grand Rapids: $8,577
Townsquare Media, Grand Rapids: $5,390
Health Net of West Michigan, Grand Rapids: $10,460
Hot Stamp Tooling Systems, Grand Rapids: $4,500
Hungerford Technologies, Grand Rapids: $10,500
ITPartners+, Grand Rapids: $6,000
Mirrors Alto: $65,750
Mercy Health Grand Rapids: $60,000
Atlas Roofing Corporation, Byron Center: $6,000
Mold Tooling Systems, Grand Rapids: $3,000
Velocity USA, Grand Rapids: $10,600
Stone Fox Staffing, Grand Rapids: $21,895
MEC, Byron Center: $59,746
Emerald Corporation, Grand Rapids: $27,280
Gordon Food Service, Wyoming: $211,305
Grand Rapids Controls, Rockford: $37,500
Hungerford Nichols CPAs + Advisors, Grand Rapids: $17,500
Jireh Metal Products, Grandville: $42,900
CG Automation & Fixture, Comstock Park: $37,498
Die-Tech and Engineering, Grand Rapids: $36,000
Gluten Free Bar, Grand Rapids: $30,450
Swoboda, Kentwood: $47,078
Roskam Baking Company, Kentwood: $90,000
ArtiFlex Manufacturing, Grand Rapids: $88,870
Walker Tool & Die, Grand Rapids: $21,000
Vista IT Group, Grand Rapids: $10,000
Star Truck Rentals, Grand Rapids: $90,000
Real IT Solutions, Comstock Park: $4,500
Rapid Tooling Systems, Grand Rapids: $6,000
Pridgeon & Clay, Grand Rapids: $208,962
Plasan North America, Walker: $70,085
Advanced Tooling Systems, Comstock Park: $36,000
Progressive AE, Grand Rapids: $14,290
CG Plastics, Comstock Park: $8,500
Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids: $269,270
Cherry Health, Grand Rapids: $154,500
Feyen Zylstra, Grand Rapids: $213,420
Agape Plastics, Grand Rapids: $37,694
Specialty Tooling Systems, Grand Rapids: $6,000
Ultimate Gaging Systems, Grand Rapids: $23,630
Guo Ji Tooling Systems, Grand Rapids: $1,000
Firstronic, Grand Rapids: $160,500
Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy, Grand Rapids: $57,678
Total: $4,396,171
Montcalm
Federal Mogul, Greenville: $88,390
Greenville Tool & Die, Greenville: $36,000
K&W Tool & Machine, Greenville: $3,000
Metron of Greenville: $12,000
Milacron DME Greenville: $72,600
Steeplechase T&D, Lakeview: $19,860
Wright Plastics, Sheridan: $13,500
Aggressive Tooling, Greenville: $39,130
WM Compounding, Greenville: $93,075
Total: $377,555
Muskegon
ADAC, Muskegon: $49,518
Anderson Global, Muskegon Heights: $114,890
Camcar Plastics, Muskegon: $4,500
Dynamic Conveyor, Norton Shores: $15,240
Hilite International, Whitehall: $65,177
Howmet Arconic, Whitehall: $263,790
Johnson Technology/GE Aviation, Muskegon: $76,000
L-3, Muskegon: $87,465
Mercy Health Muskegon: $52,500
Metal Technologies, Ravenna: $48,667
Michigan Spring & Stamping, Muskegon: $95,030
Scherdel, Muskegon: $48,078
Seabrook Plastics, Muskegon: $13,890
Seminole Shores ALC, Norton Shores: $5,400
Titan Tool & Die, Norton Shores: $10,500
EPI Breads/Lavoi Corp, Muskegon: $44,520
Fomcore, Muskegon: $15,600
La Colombe, Muskegon: $34,248
Lakeside Spring, Spring Lake: $9,600
Rolar Products, Muskegon Heights: $17,936
Total: $1,072,549
Ottawa
Herman Miller, Zeeland: $289,345
Fogg Filler, Holland: $171,196
Shape Corp., Grand Haven: $133,095
Holland Hospital, Holland: $123,320
Innotec, Zeeland: $110,526
Meridian, Spring Lake: $103,963
Gentex, Zeeland: $90,169
Altron Automation, Hudsonville: $74,616
Royal Technologies, Hudsonville: $57,000
Mirrors Holland: $53,254
Perrigo Holland: $50,760
Automatic Spring Products, Grand Haven: $46,954
Extol, Zeeland: $46,128
ODL, Zeeland: $44,666
Star Crane & Hoist, Allendale: $44,050
MFP Automation Engineering, Hudsonville: $43,409
Worksighted, Holland: $42,964
Alliance Home Health Care Services, Holland: $37,500
Ventura Manufacturing, Zeeland: $36,630
ITW Drawform, Zeeland: $35,506
Inontime, Zeeland: $31,900
DHE Plumbing and Mechanical, Hudsonville: $30,000
Metal Flow Corporation, Holland: $29,890
Busche Aluminum Technologies, Fruitport: $27,690
Parkway Electric and Communications, Holland: $27,000
Advanced Interiors, Jenison: $22,500
NPR of America, Grand Haven: $21,798
Town & Country Group, Zeeland: $21,328
All State Crane and Rigging, Holland: $15,160
Benjamin’s Hope, Holland: $15,000
Westwind Construction, Grand Haven: $14,825
Disher, Zeeland: $12,000
Cooper Standard, Spring Lake: $11,800
Engine Power Components, Grand Haven: $11,400
Zagers Pool & Spa, Jamestown Township: $10,195
Ranger Die, Coopersville: $10,170
Next Level Manufacturing, Jenison: $9,460
Driesenga & Associates, Holland: $8,201
Parker Hannifin Corporation, Otsego: $7,500
Quality Car Wash, Holland: $7,500
Lakeshore Enviromental, Grand Haven: $6,930
Apex Controls, Hudsonville: $6,000
Perception Engineering, Allendale: $5,464
Appledorn Assisted Living Center South, Holland: $5,400
Appledorn Assisted Living Center North, Holland: $5,400
Sheldon Meadows Assisted Living Center, Hudsonville: $5,400
Railside Assisted Living Center, Grand Haven: $5,400
Grand Pines Assisted Living Center, Grand Haven: $5,400
Bekins, Coopersville: $4,000
CS Erickson, Grand Haven: $3,312
DeWys Engineering, Coopersville: $3,285
Holland Plastics Corporation, Grand Haven: $2,650
Davon Manufacturing Company, Zeeland: $1,500
Total: $2,040,509
Industry-led collaboratives
Town & Country/Mechatronics, Zeeland: $3,000
Windemuller/Mechatronics, Wayland: $3,000
Town & Country Group/BICSI, Zeeland: $4,500
Riveridge Land Company/Riveridge, Sparta: $6,000
Riverridge Cider Company/Riverridge, Sparta: $7,500
Windemuller/BICSI, Wayland: $7,500
Feyen Zylstra/Mechatronics, Grand Rapids: $9,631
Parkway Electric & Communications/BICSI, Holland: $12,000
Buist Electric/BICSI, Byron Center: $13,500
Buist Electric/Mechatronics, Byron Center: $15,000
Riveridge Packaging/Riveridge, Sparta: $16,500
Rasch Bros Apple Storage/Riveridge, Sparta: $16,500
Riveridge Produce Marketing/Riveridge, Sparta: $25,500
Total: $140,131
*Industry-led collaboratives bring together employers, education and training institutions, workforce development organizations and other partners, such as economic development organizations, community organizations and government, to formulate training and education solutions to fill identified talent gaps.
Other*
Feyen Zylstra, Traverse City: $58,500
Holland Inc., Jackson: $21,000
Parker Hannifin, Richland, $18,000
Metron of Big Rapids: $15,000
Milacron DME Madison Heights, Troy: $82,500
Mercy Health Ann Arbor-St. Joe, Ypsilanti: $6,000
Holland Inc., Romulus: $45,000
Total: $246,000
*Out of region but administered by West Michigan Works!
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