HFC and TED host Governor's Marshall Plan for Talent Workshop
Photo: HFC President Russell Kavalhuna, right, meets TED Director Roger Curtis at the Marshall Plan Workshop on the HFC campus.
Approximately 100 business and education leaders gathered at HFC Thursday, July 26, for the Marshall Plan for Talent Workshop to build partnerships that will help move the region – and the state – forward in developing high-demand talent for good-paying careers to close the state’s talent gap. The workshop was part of Gov. Rick Snyder’s Marshall Plan, and Henry Ford College is a core partner in Southeast Michigan.
$100 million in innovation funds
The Marshall Plan is an additional $100 million investment in innovative programs to revolutionize Michigan’s talent and education system. It supports schools that want to transform education through programs like competency-based certifications, world-class curricula and classroom equipment, scholarships and stipends, and support for career navigators and teachers. The Marshall Plan funding complements the more than $225 million in existing talent development efforts in the state.
The workshop at HFC was hosted by the Talent and Economic Development Department of Michigan (TED). HFC President Russell Kavalhuna gave the opening remarks, followed by TED Director Roger Curtis. The attendees then participated in breakout sessions and shared their conclusions.
Business and education partnerships are key
“Michigan grows stronger when leaders from all sectors work together to develop innovative solutions that move our state forward,” said Curtis. “Today’s workshop is about building partnerships and developing stronger collaborations to better prepare Michiganders for the high-demand, high-wage careers of today and the future."
Participants discussed talent needs, potential barriers, and partnerships to help form consortia that will allow them to apply for Marshall Plan funds. All agreed that innovative partnerships are key to revolutionizing Michigan’s education and talent development system.
Lisa Oleski, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at Center Line Public Schools, felt the workshop was the beginning of a productive discourse going forward.
“Center Line has been committed to bringing together both education and business partners to develop career academies, transforming our high school to meet the needs of every student. We were happy to be a part of the conversation at today's Marshall Plan for Talent Workshop,” said Oleski.
811,000 career openings in 6 years present a critical need for skilled workers
Through 2024, Michigan is projected to have more than 811,000 career openings in fields that are facing a critical talent shortage. As the state considers talent preparation changes for these fields, the greatest demand for workers will be in increasingly high-skill, high-tech fields such as information technology and computer science, manufacturing, health care, and other business and professional trades careers.
“The Marshall Plan will promote innovative partnerships between educators and employers to prepare Michigan citizens for the thousands of well-paying jobs in our state and region,” said Kavalhuna. “HFC is uniquely positioned with existing programming to help make the Marshall Plan a success by working with K-12 schools and our industry partners to prepare students in such fields as nursing, skilled trades, and cyber security.
"At HFC, he continued, "we are FutureDriven, which makes our programs a natural fit for the Marshall Plan’s goal of preparing students to meet employers’ needs. Whether that means competency-based certificate completion or degree programs, we stand ready to work with employers and the state of Michigan to help students prepare for meaningful careers.”
For more information about the Marshall Plan for Talent, visit www.michigan.gov/marshallplan.
HFC Workforce and Professional Development Opportunities
Workforce and Professional Development programs and certifications
One-year-to-career Power and Trades Pathways program
Career and technical training programs, and business partnership opportunities
