August 13, 2008 - Today Governor Jennifer M. Granholm recognized the Schoolcraft College Biomedical Technology Center in Livonia for its cutting-edge health care curriculum and collaboration with Michigan Works! Agencies and the No Worker Left Behind (NWLB) initiative to train Michigan workers for high-wage careers in health care and the emerging biomedical industry. Granholm cited CVS Pharmacy for hiring more than 25 No Worker Left Behind-funded students in the program's first year, and pointed to their support of, and investment in, lifelong learning as the embodiment of the No Worker Left Behind philosophy.
"Health care is a growth industry for Michigan, and biomedical technology is central to the health care system of the future," said Granholm. "Schoolcraft and CVS are making the vision of the No Worker Left Behind initiative a reality, training and hiring highly-skilled workers for jobs in Michigan's expanding health care industry."
The 48,000-square-foot Biomedical Technology Center at Schoolcraft College offers classes in traditional areas such as anatomy and physiology, and courses for emerging occupations in nanotechnology, forensic technology, epidemiology, genetic science, cellular and molecular biology, and biomathematics. The center houses four laboratories and 40 classrooms and group discussion areas.
"Health care jobs are not only high wage jobs, they're high satisfaction jobs," said Keith W. Cooley, Director of the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth. "The No Worker Left Behind initiative is focused on jobs now and jobs tomorrow, and Schoolcraft is a model of the kind of training that will build Michigan's workforce and help re-build Michigan's economy."
In 2000, Harvey Diem was working as an uncertified pharmacy technician at a hospital in Colorado when he was laid off. He moved to Michigan and found other employment, but wanted to return to work in a health care position. Diem contacted his local Michigan Works! Agency, and with No Worker Left Behind training funds, he enrolled in the Schoolcraft College pharmacy technician program.
"The MWA staff and I worked together as a team," said Diem. "They helped me assert myself and pushed me to do well, and I did."
Diem graduated in the top two of his class with a certificate as a pharmacy technician. He now works for CVS Pharmacy, and he is pursuing national certification as a pharmacy technician. In the future, Diem plans to pursue a degree in pharmacological toxicology and work for a pharmaceutical company.
"Without the support of programs like No Worker Left Behind, many of our current employees would not be with us today," said Darla Smith, Regional Learning Center Manager for CVS Pharmacy. "It's imperative that Michigan continue to provide training for people in high-demand fields in health care and biomedical technology, where the demand for talent is greater than the supply of trained workers."
"In its first year, No Worker Left Behind helped us educate dozens of students for new careers in health care at Schoolcraft," said Conway A. Jeffress, President of Schoolcraft College. "With the expanded resources and training options our new Biomedical Technology Center provides, we have high hopes of training many more No Worker Left Behind-funded students in the coming year."
On August 1, 2007, Granholm announced the No Worker Left Behind initiative: an ambitious plan to train 100,000 citizens in three years for jobs in high demand occupations, emerging industries, and entrepreneurial endeavors. No Worker Left Behind gives Michigan workers the opportunity to acquire the skills they need to win good paying jobs in today's global economy. No Worker Left Behind provides up to two years of free tuition at any Michigan community college, university, or other approved training program for qualifying participants.
"Matching the skills of our workforce with the needs of our employers is what No Worker Left Behind is all about," said Andrew S. Levin, Deputy Director of the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth. "We must begin with the recognition that none of us can do it alone. We must all work together - citizens, businesses, government, and educational institutions - to build a Michigan workforce with the skills and training to meet the needs of Michigan's existing and emerging economy."
Read more Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth press releases.
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