MCC Gears Up for New Michigan Job Training Initiative

The Muskegon Community College Board of Trustees adopted a resolution at the August Board meeting to support MCC’s participation in the Michigan New Jobs Training Program (MNJTP).

At the heart of a unique partnership between the State’s Community Colleges and area businesses, the Program provides for financial assistance from the State for the customized training of newly hired employees.  This individual training will help give Michigan businesses a “competitive edge” in today’s market.

Funds to cover the costs of training are initially attained through community colleges either self-funding or a bonding process. The debt is then repaid to the college through a diversion of state withholding taxes generated by the wages earned by the new employees. In other words, training of new employees is essentially paid by dollars that would otherwise have been paid to the state for withholding taxes – no new additional dollars are expended to cover the costs of training. Businesses can thus gain a competitive edge through virtually cost-free training of their new employees.

Funds can be used for a wide range of training, from highly specialized or customized training to basic skills instruction. MNJTP funds can be used for the following: Adult basic education and job-related instruction; developmental, readiness, and remedial education; vocational and skill assessment services and testing; training facilities, equipment, materials, and supplies; and administrative expenses for the new jobs training program.

According to Tom O’Brien, MCC’s Director of the Lakeshore Business and Industrial Service Center, “The MNJTP program provides a new source of training funding for companies that are hiring new employees. There are fewer regulatory restrictions for customized training, and more latitude for special equipment instruction.  This is a step forward in developing a larger pool of training dollars for the future of our new economy.”

For more information or to apply for training services under the Michigan New Jobs Training Program, contact O’Brien by calling 231.777.0217, or by email: Tom.Obrien@MuskegonCC.edu.  Additional information can also be obtained from the Michigan Community College Association website: www.mcca.org.