Patrick Farver, Executive Director of Lenawee Now, is pleased to announce a major grant award which will provide employers in five economic sectors assistance in filling their talent pipelines. The Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity (LEO), selected Lenawee Now as a recipient of a Sector Strategies Employer-Led Collaborative (SS ELC) grant award. This competitive award provides Lenawee Economic Development Corporation (Lenawee Now) up to $500,000.00.
The grant supports employers in healthcare, construction, manufacturing, and minority-owned or operated companies. Companies struggling to build human resource and accounting personnel skills are also benefited.
The grant has a regional impact, benefiting Lenawee, Hillsdale and Jackson counties, and follows an M.O.U. between the Hillsdale Economic Development Partnership (EDP), JAMA, and Lenawee Now to collaborate on building skills in the region. Olivia Steele, President of JAMA shared her excitement about the grant. “JAMA is pleased to be working with Lenawee Now and Hillsdale EDP collaborating as a region to bring our companies together to solve problems and fulfill any training needs that may arise.” Susan Smith, the Executive Director of The Economic Development Partnership of Hillsdale County added, “We are very excited to be included in the partnership with Lenawee Now to provide resources for Employer Led Collaboratives. These discussions will address the challenges our business sectors are experiencing through the ever-shifting economy.”
This is the second regional award to Lenawee Now this year. A competitive grant to focus on the affordability and accessibility of childcare was awarded to Lenawee Now this spring. Our partners in this grant are Hillsdale and Monroe counties. The childcare challenge has direct impact on families and the availability of workforce candidates in the region. This grant for $230,000.00 is supported by 25 partners working together to create solutions to the challenge.
Executive Director Farver has focused Lenawee Now on collaboration and partnerships in order to create a greater Lenawee County.