A first-of-its-kind public-private investment partnership totaling more than a combined $4.7 million will offer new state-of-the-art EV and semiconductor education and career opportunities to students across Southwest Michigan, Greater Grand Rapids and beyond beginning in 2025.
The goal — announced today by leaders with Western Michigan University (WMU), Kellogg Community College (KCC) and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC), as well as representatives of Ford, General Motors (GM) and DENSO — is to develop a world-class skilled workforce pipeline in Southwest Michigan and Greater Grand Rapids to help fill jobs in the state’s surging EV and semiconductor industries. Watch the news conference here. (PW: MEDC).
“For Michigan to lead the nation and win the war for talent, we must close the talent gap,” said MEDC Director of Higher Education Partnerships Ava Attari during a news conference at WMU’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Floyd Hall.
“That’s why the MEDC is leading the largest state talent attraction and retention initiative in the United States,” Attari said. “Our bold strategy is designed to develop and deliver talent specific to Michigan’s new, tech-forward economy in areas where we have the most opportunity to grow advanced manufacturing — areas like electric vehicles, mobility and semiconductors.”
The MEDC grants to WMU and KCC are part of a combined total of nearly $30 million MEDC has invested with Michigan’s higher education institutions that are working with advanced manufacturing employers to design and deliver a curriculum that prepares students for in-demand mobility-related careers.
“Together with WMU, KCC and our employer partners, we are positioning Michigan as second to none for top talent and investment for businesses and career opportunities — so we can grow our state’s population and create communities where generations will thrive,” Attari said.
The MEDC and WMU announced a combined nearly $700,000 strategic investment grant that will help WMU develop a robust talent pipeline for Michigan’s advanced manufacturing sector, ultimately aiming to fill the talent gap focused on semiconductors and electric vehicles.
“With this new effort, Western is proud to further our most important endeavor — creating opportunities through education that transform and improve lives,” said WMU College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Dean Steve Butt.
“This is a mission we all share, and we are deeply grateful for the state’s support and the expertise and commitment of our industry collaborators in advancing this work,” Butt said. “The developments unveiled today also demonstrate how public and private collaboration can foster innovation and elevate our communities for the benefit of Michigan residents and our shared economic prosperity.”
The WMU programs will be guided by direct input from industry collaborators and specifically designed for in-demand priority roles such as electrical engineer, semiconductor technician, and EV processing technician, ensuring WMU graduates meet current hiring needs through in-depth training in areas of battery technology and semiconductors.
“The development of these programs aligns with our industry’s growing need for engineers with expertise in these critical areas,” said Aaron Leiba, GM’s Director of Compute and Connectivity Hardware.
The collaboration between WMU, KCC and advanced manufacturing employers was applauded by WMU student leaders who attended this morning’s press conference.
“As the world begins to recognize the need for greener technologies, my goal as a student and future engineer is to advocate for the continued development and adoption of electric vehicle technology, particularly within the automotive industry,” WMU senior Eliza Eaton, a Grosse Pointe South High School graduate and former GM intern who is majoring in aerospace engineering, said at the news conference.
“It’s clear to me that if universities like Western Michigan could incorporate more structured education on electric vehicle technology into their curricula before students embark on internships, we would see a new generation of engineers who are far better prepared for the challenges of this rapidly evolving field,” said Eaton, who plans to pursue an EV-related career.
In addition, MEDC and Kellogg Community College unveiled plans today for a combined $4 million-plus investment to retool and reimagine the KCC Advanced Manufacturing Assembly Training program to align with current and future industry manufacturing standards and meet the needs of employer partners, including Ford Motor Co.’s BlueOval Battery Park Michigan in Marshall and DENSO.
Kellogg Community College will be the first college in the United States to use an enterprise system with FANUC’s CRX-5iA Collaborative Robots. The CRX Collaborative Robots are the newest model of industrial robotic arms from FANUC. While the CRX Robot can be used like a standard industrial robot, it also offers an all-new FANUC programming interface with simple drag-and-drop technology on a touchscreen pendant. The ease of programming, paired with FANUC’s world-renowned technology, proven reliability and sensitive contact detection, allows the CRX-5iA to work safely alongside people in a variety of industrial and manufacturing jobs.
“These investments are about more than technology. They’re about preparing our communities in Calhoun, Barry and Branch counties for a brighter, more prosperous future,” said Dr. Paul Watson, President of Kellogg Community College.
“Together, we are building the skilled workforce needed to meet the demands of the advanced manufacturing industry and ensuring our region remains at the forefront of innovation. KCC is grateful for strong partnerships with Ford, Denso and the MEDC,” Watson said. “We look forward to putting these partnerships to work – literally – for current and future KCC students and trainees for many years to come.”
KCC’s evolved cutting-edge program, Kellogg Advanced Manufacturing Industry 4.0, is designed to accomplish two goals: 1) Upskill the incumbent workforce of Kellogg Community College’s employer partners to meet their needs as they transition to EV manufacturing, and 2) Increase the number of work-ready candidates in the local talent pipeline through comprehensive training in advanced manufacturing processes.
Kellogg Community College will use Amatrol’s Enterprise System as a key component of training students on smart manufacturing and industry 4.0 technologies. The system provides training on programmable logic controllers, smart sensors, smart product ID, network communications, network security, smart production, smart maintenance, industrial robotics, conveyor systems, autonomous mobile robots and more.
When students complete their training on the FANUC enterprise system, they will also have the opportunity to earn certifications from the Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA). SACA is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop and deploy modular Industry 4.0 certifications for a wide range of industries. Students at Kellogg Community College will be pursuing certifications on Robot Operations (C-103), Ethernet Communications (C-212), Smart Sensors (C-213), Smart Factory Systems (C-214), Industry 4.0 Total Productive Maintenance Management (C-211) and more.
“We appreciate KCC and the MEDC’s continued support of skilled trades and advanced manufacturing training,” said Todd Greer, vice president of Manufacturing at DENSO’s thermal facility in Battle Creek. “This programming not only supports our ongoing efforts to upskill our teams, but also helps give people the tools they need to grow a manufacturing career in Michigan – benefitting the local workforce, our industry and our communities.”
Once individuals are identified and referred to KCC for additional training, career coaches will support students who have life challenges by providing barrier removal assistance. These life challenges may include tuition needs, child care, food insecurity and transportation.
The BlueOval Battery Park Michigan (BOBP) project will use both a local and regional approach to fill its 1,700 anticipated new jobs. The future roles will include production, electrical, mechanical, engineering, logistics and material handling. Using the education systems of Michigan, BOBP will create a talent pipeline inclusive of the Albion, Battle Creek and Marshall areas, with a special focus on rural communities and underrepresented populations.
KCC will additionally utilize career coaches to work closely with Michigan Works! Southwest and other local stakeholders to identify individuals in underrepresented communities who will benefit from the pre-hire and new-hire training developed to support the BOBP project.
With bipartisan support from the Michigan Legislature, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has approved one of the nation’s most ambitious clean electricity targets. Private companies have pledged more than $11 billion to build clean energy factories and new battery technology projects in Michigan, which estimates show will produce nearly 22,000 jobs.
A new report from Climate Power shows Michigan continues to be a national leader in clean energy and EV manufacturing. The 2023 Clean Jobs America Report stated that clean energy businesses in Michigan added more than 5,400 workers in 2022 and now employ 123,983 Michiganders. According to the World Resource Institute, Michigan could create 41,000 new jobs by 2040 as it advances electric vehicle manufacturing and builds out renewable energy, like solar and wind.
The U.S. Department of Energy recently released its 2024 U.S. Energy and Employment Report, which showed clean energy jobs grew by 4.2% in 2023, adding 142,000 new jobs — more than double the growth rate of the overall U.S. workforce. These jobs accounted for 56% of new energy sector jobs, demonstrating clean energy’s role in driving economic growth. This expansion underscores the urgent need for a trained workforce to support battery technology and EV development.
The MEDC’s Talent Solutions division consortium of EV/mobility and semiconductors partners includes more than 20 major employers and national industry groups, 17 higher education partners and workforce and PK-12 leaders across Michigan.
Beyond issuing more than $30 million in higher education grants since it launched last year, the MEDC’s Talent Solutions division has also:
- Connected and trained more than 2,600 people directly into good-paying, high-tech roles with leading Michigan employers.
- Created cohorts for skills building and networking that 1,100 students at universities are leveraging to connect to Michigan’s strategic industries and employers.
- Expanded the state’s STEAM Ahead internship program, incentivizing employers to create and expand internship opportunities; more than 900 students have benefited from these internship experiences this year.
- Awarded240-plus scholarships for students and graduates to stay in state for internship and postgraduate employment as part of the nationally acclaimed Michigander Scholars program.
