TROY – Automation Alley has awarded $1 million in technical training to 24 local companies through the second round of its Technical Talent Development Program Challenge Fund, helping to ensure that Southeast Michigan’s information technology workforce is among the most skilled in the nation.
The 24 companies awarded a portion of the $1 million are projected to train 472 local workers for new and existing high-tech jobs in 2014 and include both large corporations and small to medium-size businesses from across Southeast Michigan.
?On behalf of Automation Alley, I?d like to congratulate our second round of Challenge Fund awardees,? said Automation Alley Executive Director Ken Rogers. ?By helping local companies attract and retain a talented workforce, Automation Alley?s talent initiatives are contributing to the future success of our region. Our Technical Talent Development Program is a unique workforce development program designed to address the critical need for technical talent in Southeast Michigan.?
Launched in 2012 with two employer partners, HP Enterprise Services of Pontiac and Lakeside Software, Inc. of Bloomfield Hills and Ann Arbor, TTDP is made possible through a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, awarded to Automation Alley to create jobs and retrain workers within Southeast Michigan?s tech industry.
In 2013, Automation Alley awarded 13 local companies a portion of $750,000 in training funds through the first round of the TTDP Challenge Fund. Automation Alley member companies with immediate IT training needs were eligible to apply for the funds. As a result, 287 new and existing employees participated in training in 2013.
?Automation Alley serves a vital role in supporting workforce development in southeastern Michigan. Through the Technical Talent Development Program, Automation Alley offers people in our community the opportunity to train for ?in demand? careers in IT,? said Linda Kruso, director of workforce planning at Beaumont Health System. ?Beaumont Health System is pleased to serve as an employer partner. This funding benefits our health system and the community by helping to increase the supply of well qualified health care IT talent.?
Training funds are administered by EdEn, Inc., a local project management firm specializing in economic and workforce development projects. Local training providers ? including corporate training companies, workforce development organizations and educational institutions ? deliver training to partner employers. The specific type of training to be conducted is determined by the needs of the employer and includes industry-recognized vendor certifications for select IT occupations, such as software developers for applications, database administrators, computer specialists and computer user support specialists.
The 2014 Automation Alley TTDP Challenge Fund awardees include:
? ACE Controls (Farmington Hills)
? AMT (Orion)
? Baker College (Auburn Hills campus)
? Compuware Corporation (Detroit)
? DASI Solutions (Pontiac)
? Detroit Labs, LLC (Detroit)
? ESG Automotive USA (Troy)
? Future Help Designs (Pontiac)
? General Motors (Warren)
? Hirotec America (Auburn Hills)
? Logic Solutions (Ann Arbor)
? Mobile Comply (Pontiac)
? MOBIS North America, LLC (Farmington Hills)
? Oakland Schools (Waterford)
? Pixo Group (Southfield)
? Plastipak Packaging (Plymouth)
? R & E Automated (Macomb Twp)
? Research Into Internet Systems [RIIS] (Troy)
? Saline Lectronics (Saline)
? Softura (Farmington Hills)
? Stout Systems (Ann Arbor)
? Total Solutions (Brighton)
? W3R Consulting (Southfield)
? ZenaComp (Farmington Hills)
Companies were notified of their awards Feb. 7 and are expected to begin training new and existing workers within 60 days of notification.
The Automation Alley Technical Talent Development Program is made possible by a $5 million grant funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, and is an equal opportunity program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
