LANSING – State Representative Lisa Brown (D-West Bloomfield) on Thursday voted for a plan to retrain thousands of Michigan's displaced workers so they can land good-paying jobs available now in high-demand fields. The legislation leverages a $38 million federal investment in the No Worker Left Behind (NWLB) program, which will significantly increase the state's capacity to match Michigan residents with available jobs. As part of the plan, Southeast Michigan will receive $18.6 million to retrain more than 4,200 workers.
"Oakland County has a well-deserved reputation as having one of the most dedicated and resourceful workforces in the country," Brown said. "No Worker Left Behind is important because it enhances this workforce and makes our region even more attractive to businesses and job providers. High-tech training will help our out-of-work residents bounce back and compete for good-paying jobs in high-tech fields."
Through NWLB, eligible Michigan workers can attend a community college or university tuition-free for two years to upgrade their skills so they can get good-paying jobs available in high-demand fields. The federal funds will allow NWLB to train more workers and shorten the waiting lists that have formed statewide. NWLB is recognized nationally as one of the best programs providing workers with retraining and available jobs in new fields.
Since NWLB began in 2007, more than 102,000 residents have enrolled in the program. The $38 million comes on the heels of other efforts by House Dems to help displaced workers and boost retraining.
"Our hard-working residents deserve the training they need to get back on the job," Brown said. "Too many of our families are struggling to make ends meet and need access to the training and education necessary to compete for jobs in emerging fields. This investment will help thousands of workers in our community get back on the job."