PAID WORK EXPERIENCE CONTINUES FOR YOUNG ADULTS IN NORTHWEST MICHIGAN

NORTHWEST LOWER, MI – A program providing meaningful work experience and income for young adults is continuing in Northwest Lower Michigan. Northwest Michigan Works! has received a grant for the Young Professionals program. The program provides adolescent adults with job skills, earned income, and career exploration and preparation activities.
 
This summer, Northwest Michigan Works! is partnering with the Charlevoix-Emmet (Char-Em) ISD, Northwest Education Services, and Wexford-Missaukee ISD to offer the Young Professionals program. Students will learn skills related to welding training. Wexford-Missaukee ISD will also provide firefighter training.
 
“This grant, in partnership with Networks Northwest and Northwest Michigan Works!, opens incredible opportunities for our high school students. By earning a competitive wage while expanding their skills beyond the classroom, they are not only building their resumes but also enhancing their employability and future earning potential. We are thrilled to provide this pathway for growth and success,” said Jim Rummer, Director of Career and Technical Education at the Char-Em ISD.
 
“The Young Professionals program provides students and young adults with an invaluable opportunity to gain advanced welding skills, earn recognized industry credentials, and receive compensation while exploring meaningful career pathways. This hands-on training not only equips them with valuable technical abilities and boosts their confidence through real-world experience, but also serves as a vital link in strengthening our community and bolstering Michigan's workforce by cultivating a pipeline of skilled labor to meet the needs of our local and state economies,” said Patrick Lamb, Assistant Superintendent of Career and Technical Education at Northwest Education Services.
 
The Young Professionals initiative is designed to reduce youth unemployment and place young adults on a path to achieve lifelong economic self-sufficiency. The initiative supports young adults who are struggling to obtain employment by exposing them to multiple career and educational opportunities, such as entering a Registered Apprenticeship program, earning a college degree or certificate, and obtaining sustainable employment.