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Grant to help Bay College programs

LANSING – Students at 18 community colleges across the state, including Bay College, will gain in-demand skills using state-of-the-art equipment and training through a $50 million grant program, Gov. Rick Snyder said.

Snyder announced Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) approval of schools selected through the Community College Skilled Trades Equipment Program (CCSTEP), an effort to help close a talent gap and meet a demand for good-paying jobs.

“We are positioning Michigan to become the national leader in developing talent,” Snyder said. “This serious investment, one of the largest of its kind in the country, will tap our top-notch community colleges and help new students and adults looking for new opportunities gain the skills sought by companies looking to grow and expand, creating more and better jobs in Michigan.”

The 18 community colleges selected to receive grants will provide more than $21.5 million in matching funds.

Bay College will receive $748,893.37 in CCSTEP funds and provide $251,304.42 in match funds for the program areas of EMT/paramedic, welding, water resource management, and mechatronics.

Announced by Snyder in October, the grant program was created to provide funding that enables Michigan community colleges to purchase equipment required for educational programs in high-wage, high-skill, and high-demand occupations. The Michigan Strategic Fund has authorized issuing bonds to fund the program.

“Manufacturing has created more than 114,500 jobs since 2009 and employers are still searching to fill thousands of available positions,” said Chuck Hadden, president and CEO of the Michigan Manufacturers Association.

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