LANSING – Upper Peninsula hiring and employment successes were among those celebrated recently by the Michigan Works! Association at its second annual Prosperity Awards.

Michigan Works! The Job Force Board worked with Verso Corp., one of the local honorees, to identify and hire qualified workers at their Quinnesec mill.

Michigan Works! collected applications and resumes and assembled job seeker application packets, scored the applications and tracked the information. The organization then called job seekers and scheduled and facilitated interviews, leading to numerous hires. Among the new hires was Alaine Perry of Norway,a dry end fiber generalist who was also honored at the Lansing Awards ceremony.

The Quinnesec mill, including new hires that the mill continues to hire as the result of attrition, has made a vast impact on the economic stability of Dickinson County.

“Michigan Works!’ focus on meeting the needs of local job makers is producing great results,” said state Sen. Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba). “Success stories like these are leading the way for the entire state as we put Michigan back to work, and I thank the Michigan Works team throughout the UP for their efforts.”

The Prosperity Awards are an opportunity for state leaders to recognize the work of job makers and local workers successfully paired through Michigan Works! demand-driven approach to talent development. Dozens of honorees from across the state received awards presented by their local lawmakers and state workforce development officials.

Award winners included job makers, workers, Michigan Works! Agencies, and partners from across the state.

“Verso Corporation and their employees like Alaine are critically important to the Upper Peninsula and Dickinson County,” said state Rep. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan). “Michigan Works! is making a real difference for the U.P. by working with employers like Verso to meet their demands.”

Said Luann Dunsford, Chief Executive Officer of the Michigan Works! Association: “Michigan Works! is on the front lines meeting the talent demands of employers, responding to the unique needs of each community and engaging community leaders to influence change.”

Employers and job seekers can find the nearest Michigan Works! Service Center by visiting the website at michiganworks.org/agencies/map or by calling 1-800-285-WORKS (9675).

Established in 1987, the Michigan Works! Association fosters high-quality employment and training programs serving employers and workers by providing support activities and a forum for information exchange for Michigan’s workforce development system.

For more information, please visit www.michiganworks.org.