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The W.K. Kellogg
Foundation
awarded GRCC’s Workforce Training Department a three-year,
$1,050,344 grant for the college’s Equitable Empowerment Through
Career Pathways program. The college will work with community
partners, employers and local governments to provide people with
skills leading to rewarding jobs or starting businesses.
“This grant will help GRCC and our partners tear down barriers
to success and provide life-changing opportunities for people to
prepare for in-demand careers,” GRCC President Bill Pink
said.
“We know the value of a strong, diverse workforce, as the
Kellogg Foundation has shown through study after study. It makes
good sense to use this funding to support such efforts. It will
help our communities that are experiencing disparities, as well
as our companies who continue to experience talent deficits.”
The grant will focus on construction skills and other
opportunities related to water, water infrastructure,
recreation, and the variety of projects expected to arise from
the efforts to restore portions of the Grand River.
The grant also will support the college’s Public Works
Academy, which will offer skills in electrical, wastewater
treatment, National Green Infrastructure certification, and
other areas determined by municipalities.
“The work of this grant is crucial to tackling the racial and
economic disparities we see for families here in Grand Rapids,”
said W.K. Kellogg Foundation Program Officer Tracie Coffman.
“Grand Rapids Community College does such important work in our
community and we look forward to strengthening our partnership
over the next three years.”
Partners include public works departments for the cities of
Grand Rapids, Kentwood and Grand Haven; road commissions for
Kent and Van Buren counties, the Michigan Department of
Transportation and contractors Prein & Newhof and Rowe
Professional Services.
Virtual information sessions for the Public Works Academy are
scheduled for noon to 1 p.m., Jan. 11 and 12. Registration is
available here: http://bit.ly/3pNnuc3. Those who successfully
complete the program are guaranteed at least two job interviews.
People interested in other aspects of the program can contact
the team at the Leslie M. Tassell M-TEC at 616-234-3800
or workforcetraining@grcc.edu.
The new grant builds on a program supported by a 2018 grant from
the Battle Creek-based W.K. Kellogg Foundation that focused on
training residents for careers in public works and healthcare.
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