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Alternative Energy Degrees Michigan
Election Townhall: Economy, Energy, Environment (3 of 10)
Alternative Energy Questions:
Has anyone else given up trying to find a decent paying job in Michigan?
Who else does'nt buy the hype given by politicians that our future is bright so long as we "Re Train" for carreers in high tech or alternative energy? I guess six pack Joe can just change his colors overnight, get a degree in academia land and live happily ever after whilst wearing a lab coat......Laughable!! They can bring in what ever new phony jobs they want, but as long as American labor is under assault, the game never ends. I garauntee it won't be long after when these so called companies move in, that they'll ask for tax breaks and wage concessions or threaten to move out , just like all the others!!
Try West Michigan (Grand Rapids/Holland/Muskegon area). West Michigan is totally different than the rest of Michigan. Plus, West Michigan has beautiful Lake Michigan beaches, lots of lakes, forests, etc.
West Michigan job market expected to grow
http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-30/1150210127136010.xml&coll=6
"This region has the healthiest economy in the state, and the outlook appears relatively rosy for future hires. That's the consensus of Manpower Inc. and its analyst, Joe Ross.
"Michigan's got two economies right now," Ross said. "One is West Michigan, and the rest of the state."
Ross sees it this way: "If it were a summer movie, we would call it 'Revenge of the West Side,' " Ross said. "West Michigan still is the bright spot in the entire state.""
Industrial market shows promise
http://www.mlive.com/business/grpress/index.ssf?/base/business-3/1152197660263330.xml&coll=6
"Donald Shoemaker, principal for Franklin Partners, said he bought the Siemens Dematic facilities, 4147 and 4247 Eastern Ave. SE, because the regional market has been strong.
"We're asked all the time, 'Why would you go to the worst economy in the nation to do business?' But that's with the east half of Michigan added in," he said.
In West Michigan, the outlook and demand are considerably different than the Detroit area, he said."
East meets west
http://www.mlive.com/mbusinessreview/west/index.ssf?/base/test/1154606455107770.xml&coll=12
West Michigan Schools Make Plans To Train Workers For Expanding Battery Industry
As a third battery company moves closer to announcing plans to open along the Lakeshore, educators are gearing up to train workers for this expanding industry.
The options could range from new degrees and certification at local colleges to extensive on-the-job-training funded by the state.
"We have a lot of people with manufacturing experience, but not many that have 'clean room' experience. The lithium-ion battery environment is truly a 'clean room' environment," said Dan Clark, dean of Grand Rapids Community College's Lakeshore campus and academic outreach.
He's referring to a type of controlled work environment, typical of plants producing batteries for the automotive industry, that has low levels of environmental pollutants.
Many of these new green economy jobs will require an understanding of chemistry, electricity and electronics. Unlike traditional hands-on manufacturing assembly, production at battery plants is more machine-controlled monitoring.
Together, the Johnson Controls-Saft and LG Chem plants in Holland and the potential factory by another company, fortu PowerCell, in Muskegon Township could generate 1,700 jobs over the next several years. That doesn't include thousands of spin-off positions that could be added by local firms supplying these plants.
In the fall, GRCC plans to begin offering a one-year certification program for energy storage technicians designed to prepare workers for entry-level battery plant positions. Whether that program will lead to a two-year associate's degree will depend on the requirements of the battery plants, said Julie Parks, the college's director of work force training.
GRCC instructors may even travel to France and Korea -- where Saft and LG Chem operate battery plants -- to learn from experts there.
"Just like we went to Spain for wind energy (training), we'll go wherever we need to bring the skills here," Parks said.
GRCC instructors also could head to the local battery plants to provide instruction in new technologies to employees as part of a model approved by GRCC trustees on Monday.
Paul Plotkowski, dean of Padnos College of Engineering and Computing at Grand Valley State University, says he will meet this week with officials at one of the battery companies to discuss its engineering needs in more detail.
Engineers with experience designing and fabricating high-electronic type components already have the background to work in these battery plants, Plotkowski said.
"What is going to be needed is product-specific training," Plotkowski said, adding that training will be a joint effort by the companies and local educational institutions.
GVSU will tailor its educational support to each company.
"Even if you take a look at any two companies in any industry, you'll find out their procedures and products are a little different," Plotkowski said.
Next month, GRCC plans to hold three community workshops to give an introduction of the alternative energy industry. The free, two-hour workshops are designed to give some general knowledge of the new wind and battery technology being developed in the region.
JCI-Saft has begun the hiring process for management and engineers who will be setting up the plant's operation, which is slated to go online 2011. Production technician positions will start to be filled in the fall.
While there is a need for retraining, JCI-Saft and LG selected Holland because of the region's reputation for reliability, productivity and ability to learn new skills.
"These are critical launches for JCI-Saft and LG Chem so they are going to look for people they can rely on, who have a strong work history and are willing to learn new skills," said Randy Thelen, president of Lakeshore Advantage, a Zeeland-based economic development group that led the effort to bring both the JCI-Saft and LG Chem projects to Holland.
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