The Michigan Regional Skills Alliances (MiRSA) Initiative recently received a U.S. Department of Labor Recognition of Excellence Award Honorable Mention, at the Workforce Innovations conference. The award recognized Employment and Training Administration funded initiatives that were innovative, collaborative, and result in positive performance outcomes.
The LSCP Foundation was named as a collaborating partner in this indicative and we are proud to continue working toward increasing the employment opportunities of the residents of the Upper Peninsula.
The Midwest Skills Development Center is a project of the Lake Superior Community Partnership Foundation (LSCPF), a 501(c)(3) corporation whose primary mission is to promote and advance economic and workforce development in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Center offers vocational training and technical diploma programs targeted to meet current and future workforce needs.
The Lake Superior Community Partnership Foundation has acquired, from the Economic Development Corporation of Marquette County, facilities at the former KI Sawyer Air Force Base to accommodate both classroom and field work instruction. The Center is located at 411 Avenue A, Gwinn, Michigan.
An Electrical Line Technician Program graduated its 5th class in April 2008. The program is one that utility companies have requested be offered because of their current and future need of trained line technicians. The program is certified by Northern Michigan University.
The program is a pre-apprenticeship program that will prepare students to install, maintain and operate electrical systems to supply energy to residential, commercial and industrial customers and underground generation facilities. The Program Advisory Board is made up of industry, municipality, education and community leaders from across the Upper Peninsula and is responsible for overseeing the program.
Northern Michigan University certifies the program. Through the applicant screening process, skill levels in the areas of reading comprehension, sentence skills, arithmetic and elementary algebra are assessed. If the identified skill levels are not met, the student may take remedial courses at the college or university of their choice and reapply to the program at a later date.
An advisory board made up of representatives of utilities, contractors, business people and the LSCPF will be responsible for setting the program's curriculum, recruitment, financial review and other advisory duties as needed.
The current classes begin in August of each year with graduation in April.
To apply log on to www.nmu.edu and fill out an application online. Secondly, candidates will need to complete the skills assessment testing. Letters will be sent to all applicants indicating the dates and times of testing.
We are currently accepting applications for the Fall of 2009 class.
For more information about the program and curriculum go to http://webb.nmu.edu/TechnologyAndAppliedSciences/index.shtml
Resources for After Graduation:
Check out Get Into Energy a resource of employment and training opportunities in the Lineworker Field as well as Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Website for Employment opportunities.
Touchstone Energy Cooperatives
Who can apply?
Successful applicants must be 18 years of age and have a valid driver's license and be a high school or GED graduate. Students will be selected based on application, skills assessment and personal interview process.
For more information contact the Lake Superior Community Partnership Foundation at 906-226-9658 or 888-578-6489 or email Kat at karmstrong@marquette.org.
