|
On Tuesday, I stood firm for northern Michigan and the eastern Upper Peninsula by negotiating funding for critical workforce development and retention programs in our district.
I was able to secure nearly $10 million for North Central Michigan College in Petoskey for the creation of the new Career and Technical Education Complex. This funding will help address the serious workforce development challenges throughout the region.
I also worked to secure nearly $4 million for Northwestern Michigan College’s Student Aviation Center to expand their hangar and purchase new aircrafts for this dynamic program — further enhancing Traverse City’s leadership in this industry and addressing our region’s critical pilot shortage.
It was a long, tough negotiation process. However, working with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle, I was able to secure this funding that will have a positive impact for generations to come.
Additionally, the bill included $75 million in funding — part of which will be available throughout our region — to recruit, retain, and train health care workers. This will help mitigate what has become a crisis that has had devastating consequences for our residents’ ability to access quality medical care.
Finally, the main component of House Bill 4016 was funding to pave the way for a state-of-the-art battery manufacturing plant, owned and operated by Ford Motor Co. This infrastructure funding will be critical in maintaining the state of Michigan as a leader in the automotive industry.
Governing is a complicated business involving give-and-take, strategy and negotiations. I am proud to have been able to secure some tangible wins for our district in terms of workforce development. We have a shortage of skilled workforce throughout our region — every business knows this, and our families are tired of seeing their children be forced to leave the area to find training or employment.
This is what effective and practical leadership looks like. And by passing this bill, we are helping address some of these critical issues I hear every day in northern Michigan and the eastern Upper Peninsula.
|
