GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- After hearing from cities and community organizations, Grand Rapids Community College is starting a training program in 2020 targeting jobs related to water, public works, clean energy and river restoration projects.
Julie Parks, executive director for GRCC Workforce Training, said the college is being responsive to the demand for employees in the focus areas.
She said training will include the repair and maintenance of municipal water and wastewater systems, pipe and green infrastructure, water testing, hazardous materials removal and safety certifications.
GRCC is teaming up with the cities of Grand Rapids and Kentwood, the nonprofit Grand Rapids Whitewater, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, and the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority’s Whitewater Project team on the West Michigan Clean Water and Environmental Certifications Program.
“Area water systems depend on maintenance and restoration, but the workforce with these skills is aging, and there’s no current pipeline to bring in new talent,” Parks said.
JP Morgan Chase provided GRCC a two-year, $150,000 grant for the training. Parks said the financial services firm has long been supportive of college initiatives.
Parks said grant will keep the cost of student training down to $25. She said training could be 40 hour or as much as 300 hours.
James Hurt, public services director for the city of Grand Rapids, said he and his colleagues in the Midwest branch of the Michigan Chapter of the American Public Works Association have been discussing a creating a talent pipeline for nearly two years.
He said they have already worked with GRCC on training through its Public Works Academy and hope to recruit more students through the new training program.
Hurt said the city is looking for both people new to public works and existing employees interested in learning new skills.
“Fifty percent of employees will be eligible to retire in the next five to 10 years,’’ he said. “It will be a drain on our institutional knowledge. We are looking to find qualified individuals.’’
Parks said the training can be pathway to a career with a good salary and benefits. She said hourly wages in the various categories generally range from $15 to $18 per hour to start out.
For example, Hurt said an entry level maintenance assistant earns $16.03 per hour.
“GRCC has strong partnerships with area municipalities’ workforce development work,” GRCC President Bill Pink said.
“This grant will help that collaboration grow, preparing the region for the changes planned for the Grand River, and the continued importance of prepared workforce to meet these needs.”
An employer advisory team will help GRCC develop a curriculum, which will incorporate national credentials for stormwater and green infrastructure training.
Neighborhood and nonprofit groups such as the Urban League of Greater Grand Rapids and the West Michigan Hispanic Center will help connect unemployed or underemployed residents to the program, to help ensure a diverse pool of students.
Those interested in learning more, should email workforcetraining@grcc.edu or call 616-234-3800.
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November 26, 2019 at 07:03AM
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GRCC partnering with area cities on training for public works, other jobs - mlive.com
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