Skilled Trades Opportunities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, Aug. 21, 2023

CONTACT: Amy Bailey, Byrum & Fisk Advocacy Communications, abailey@byrumfisk.com

Campaign partners with local employers to highlight training programs available to help students prepare for future careers

MARSHALL, Mich. — The Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance (MAEDA) is excited to kick off a regional advertising campaign showcasing a variety of local training opportunities available to young people interested in a career in the skilled trades.

The campaign, launching today, features ads on social media and the internet as well as a radio spot and billboards in Marshall and Albion. They highlight the various opportunities at local companies, including Eaton, Tenneco, Tribal Manufacturing, Autocam, Marshall Excelsior and Ford’s BlueOval Battery Park Michigan, which is scheduled to open in 2026.

“Young people in southwest Michigan have a variety of available training and workforce education programs so they can have fulfilling careers near home,” said Jim Durian, CEO of MAEDA. “We are proud to showcase the amazing companies and opportunities right here in Marshall that will help sustain our workforce for generations to come.”

Training for skilled-trade opportunities exists through hands-on programs at Marshall Public Schools and Kellogg Community College (KCC). These programs help ensure people in the region can take advantage of local job opportunities now and long into the future.

KCC partners with various school districts so students who want this type of education in the skilled trades can graduate with both a high school diploma and an associate degree from KCC.

“Students have the opportunity to prepare for the future workforce and get quickly into the industry debt-free,” said Scott Cubberly, director of KCC’s Eastern Academic Center. “Our partnerships with our local K-12 schools are great opportunities for students to explore future careers and enter the workforce in high-wage, high-skill jobs.”

“These are great prospects for local students that will allow them to stay here in Marshall and not have to move somewhere else to get a job,” said Ben Wallace, principal at Marshall Opportunity High School. “We’re excited about all of the local opportunities for our students and for our district.”

More information about skilled trades training and opportunities is available online at choosemarshall.com/training.

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