A state grant of $500,000 is going to the new Berrien County Collaborative to help set up an apprenticeship program using the former Lake Michigan College campus in Niles.
Earlier this year, Berrien RESA, LMC, and the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber announced the new collaborative to connect businesses with students and establish more apprenticeships in the area. State Representative Joey Andrews has secured the $500,000 to get started.
LMC VP of Enrollment, Marketing, and Government Relations Al Pscholka tells us this grant is a big help.
“This is a real shot in the arm for the Berrien Talent Collaborative,” Pscholka said. “We’ve been sharing costs among us, but we also need some startup costs, some staffing, some marketing, some materials to do some evaluation, reporting, outreach to business.”
Berrien RESA Assistant Superintendent Chris Machiniak says the collaborative is signing up all kinds of businesses now to offer apprenticeships.
“We are looking to set up registered apprenticeships, kind of continuations from our high school classes into actual positions locally, and that can range,” Machiniak said. “That can involve dual-enrolled classes, so taking some college courses. It can involve obtaining credentials, certificates, and licenses.”
The former Niles campus, now called the Bertrand Innovation Center, will be like a hub for the apprenticeship program. Machiniak says they’re setting up learning spaces there now, particularly in the healthcare field, but others will follow. No construction is planned at this time.
Pscholka says the Berrien County Collaborative is seeking to create a talent pipeline for employers while giving young people a reason to stay in the area. We’ll start to see the program fully up and running late this year.
