ESCANABA – Bay College will receive nearly $1.5 million from a federal grant to develop job training programs. It is part of a $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor through the Michigan Coalition for Advanced Manufacturing.

A group of 8 community colleges in Michigan are working to meet employer needs in CNC machining, welding and fabrication, multi-skilled technician and production operations. Macomb Community College is the consortium leader.

The grants announced Wednesday come from the Labor Department and are part of $475 million going to schools across the nation.

“For America’s workforce to be competitive in the 21st century, our workers must possess the skills employers need for their businesses to succeed. That is why employers should partner with educational institutions and government to help develop curriculum and credentialing programs at the local level,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. “This round of grants has an increased emphasis on creating the types of training programs that will prepare community college students for the jobs in which they are needed, which is good for employees, employers and the strength of our economy.”

One goal of the M-CAM is to align the curriculum for their programs across all eight colleges to assure employers of consistency in training programs.