State Launches Talent And Economic Development Department

By ALISHA GREEN
Associated Press

LANSING (AP) - The Department of Talent and Economic Development launched Monday with the aim of making Michigan a national leader in talent development for skilled trades such as manufacturing, welding, electrical work and automotive production.

Gov. Rick Snyder issued an executive order in December creating the department to house the state's economic growth and job training efforts. That order also created the Michigan Talent Investment Agency within the new department.

Snyder said the move will help create a combined effort for economic, talent and community development, allowing more focus on "people, not programs."
The Department of Talent and Economic Development will bring together the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and the Michigan Strategic Fund.

The Talent Investment Agency will coordinate job preparedness and worker training programs.

Agency head Stephanie Comai said efforts will include trying to create a pipeline for all talent in the state, from students to those already in the workforce who need new training.

"The talent gap is one of the biggest issues facing Michigan," she said.

One area of focus will be on connecting the unemployed to training and job opportunities to get them back into the workforce. Another focus will be on promoting jobs in the skilled trades.

"There are great opportunities in skilled trades," Comai said. "We need to change the conversation about these opportunities. For too long, those jobs were maybe not looked on very favorably, but they are high paying and in demand."

Steve Arwood, CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and director of the new Talent and Economic

Development department, said the most successful development efforts across the state look at traditional business incentives, community and talent. The reorganization of state agencies and programs will help position the state to deploy that combined development approach more thoughtfully and frequently.

"It's really about looking at the total package Michigan offers," Arwood said.

Snyder did not say whether jobs would be added as a result of the reorganization.

"My goal is to make it so it's more efficient government," he said, adding that he hopes to have more frontline rather than administrative positions as an example of efficiencies that could come from the move.

The launch of the new department comes around the same time as other efforts to invest in the skilled trades. The governor's office announced last month that 18 community colleges are receiving $50 million to train Michigan students for careers in the skilled trades.

© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.