News and Success Stories

KALAMAZOO, MI (Sep 10, 2019) – The Michigan Works! Association honored FireKeepers Casino Hotel on Tuesday for its commitment to training and developing a pipeline of skilled and competent talent in Michigan. Named the Michigan Works! Association Employer of the Year, FireKeepers received its award at the association’s annual conference in Kalamazoo. “FireKeepers has been…

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (Sep 10, 2019) – Jennifer Klempnow of Michigan Works! Southwest was awarded Michigan’s “Shining Star” Award today during the Michigan Works! Association’s Annual Conference in Kalamazoo.

For the fourth consecutive year, Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG), the premier program of Youth Solutions Inc., has achieved the “5-of-5” award, bestowed annually by the national affiliated organization, Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG).

At the time of Rexam’s closing in Constantine, Bruce was making $21.50 per hour. He, both a husband and father, was left unsure of what to pursue as a stable career that could support his family. Due to his lay-off, he was referred to Michigan Works! Southwest for services. Staff provided him with

Latonya first visited the Michigan Works! Southwest Service Center in Kalamazoo in October of 2018.

After losing his job as a part-time cashier at the Army base in Battle Creek, Ray began visiting the Michigan Works! Southwest Service Center almost every day, spending hours researching companies and applying for open positions. Though he was hesitant at first to receive one-on-one assistance from

In early May of 2019, the Vision for Prosperity Apprenticeship Readiness Training Program, designed to address the need for skilled workers in construction trades, celebrated the graduation of their first cohort, comprised of 16 individuals from the Kalamazoo area, at a luncheon and graduation ceremony held at the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 357 Training Center in Schoolcraft.

The Southwest Michigan Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) is hosting a regional ‘Meet the Buyer’ event to educate companies on how to do business with government purchasers.

Ben Damerow, Michigan Works! Southwest Director, participated on the panel of the 13th Annual Calhoun County Legislative Breakfast.

Michigan Works! Southwest Director, Ben Damerow, joined the Governor’s signing of an executive order creating the new Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, a re-organization of the Department of Talent and Economic Development. Read more here!

In an ongoing effort to offer customized solutions for employers’ hiring needs, Michigan Works! Southwest staff have been dedicated to the creation and implementation of innovative, non-traditional apprenticeship training programs.

Ashley Iovieno, Business Services Coordinator for Michigan Works! Southwest, participated in the Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) NLN Summit on May 6 with close to 80 attendees from 16 states.