Ottawa County Michigan Works and Grand Rapids Community College will create a training partnership supporting MEGA Funding recipients, Energetx Composites of Holland, and Integrated Fabric Resource of Zeeland.

Grand Rapids Community College is developing training programs for both Energetx Composites and Integrated Fabric Resource as they begin ramping up production, and in the case of Energetx Composites, moving into a different market.

Ottawa County Michigan Works will be responsible for screening and assessing all new hires for both companies. The partnership between Ottawa County Michigan Works and GRCC will be a seamless integration of moving qualified candidates through the assessment process at Michigan Works and onto the training programs of Grand Rapids Community College.

Energetx Composites will focus its main production on designing and fabricating blades and housings for wind turbines, as well as composites for the transportation sector.

Employee training for Energetx Composites will include specific training for composite technicians The partnership of GRCC and Michigan Works expects to roll out training for the composite technicians by the winter of 2010.

Integrated Fabric Resource of Zeeland will increase production of its line of Flexitank products for use in packaging and shipping. GRCC is currently developing a training series in support of Integrated Fabric Resource’s production. Candidates will be sent through the training after first being qualified by Ottawa County Michigan Works.

Grand Rapids Community College’s Workforce Training provides continuing education, professional development and customized training, throughout the state of Michigan.

Ottawa County Michigan Works is the area’s largest partner in workforce development. It maintains close relationships with all area and regional training centers as well as with economic developers and the regional business community.

All hiring inquiries should be directed to Ottawa County Michigan Works. All calls and resumes sent directly to Grand Rapids Community College, or Energetx Composites and Integrated Fabric Resource, will be re-directed to Michigan Works.

The established partnership of Ottawa County Michigan Works and Grand Rapids Community College will qualify and train workers who will be engaged in production for the new economy. The local recipients, Energetx Composites and Integrated Fabric Resource have benefited by the MEGA Funding, and will continue to receive valuable employment-related services through the Ottawa County Michigan Works / Grand Rapids Community College partnership. Michigan Works and GRCC will create a training partnership that will support the expansion of both MEGA Funding company recipients.

Contacts:

Angela Barksdale, Program Supervisor, Ottawa County Michigan Works, (616) 393-5614, abarksdale@miottawa.org.
Julie Parks, Director, Workforce Training, Grand Rapids Community College, (616) 234-3714, jparks@grcc.edu.