An essential partner and leader in workforce development was recognized this week at the West Michigan Works! 2022 Workforce Development Board annual meeting. Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) was named Partner of the Year.
“Congratulations Grand Rapids Community College, our Partner of the Year, for their outstanding collaboration on regional workforce development programs and initiatives!” WMW! Director of Talent Solutions Tasha Evans said upon presenting GRCC’s award.
“GRCC has worked with WMW! to create career pathways through JobSync and CareerPoint and map them through grant programs such as One Workforce. As the administrator of major workforce initiatives such as One Workforce, Talent Pathways and the Michigan Learning and Education Advancement Program, GRCC provides strategic leadership on the WMW! workforce development board and various committees and councils.”
Julie Parks, GRCC Dean and Executive Director of Workforce Training, and Interim Dean of Business and Industry, accepted the award on behalf of the college. “We are honored to have our partnership with West Michigan Works! recognized,” Parks said. “Working together with our employers will make West Michigan the place people will want to move to for rewarding careers.”
Each year GRCC provides thousands of students with career skills training through partnerships with more than 450 area employers. Classes are offered at the downtown campus, Leslie Tassell MTEC in Grand Rapids and at the GRCC Lakeshore Campus in Holland. Students can work with career coaches and job developers to gain employability skills and learn if they are eligible for programs such as One Workforce, which may lower or eliminate costs for training.
