By Journal Staff

MARQUETTE — InvestUP, the Upper Peninsula’s regional economic development organization, together with support from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and other partners across the U.P., has created an initiative aimed at supporting the demand for advanced manufacturing talent.

InvestUP announced the training and job placement program, called UP Pathways to Employment in Manufacturing, started this fall.

It is open to the general public who meet the following criteria: high school graduates, early career workers, displaced workers and others seeking new career opportunities.

A webinar on Tuesdaywill provide additional details, followed by opportunities to virtually meet one-on-one with representatives of its higher education partners.

Fifty-one percent of the program’s trainees must be from low- and moderate-income households. This supports the initiative’s goal to reduce barriers for people who meet LMI income thresholds, such as costs associated with further education.

The initiative is backed by a Regional Talent Innovation grant and part of a community development block grant — Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funding allocated to MEDC.

The colleges are designing their training to last from two days to eight weeks in areas related to mechatronics, such as medical device and advanced electronics manufacturing, and software and systems support.

The goal is to help fill just over 300 manufacturing positions needed across the U.P. Access to training will conclude late next summer. Trainees will receive a certificate of completion and will be provided with job placement and advancement assistance.

“Mechatronics is a fast-growing, high-demand field,” InvestUP Director of Business Initiatives Amy Berglund said in a news release. “Skilled workers have great potential for advancement and higher-wage employment.

“Whether you’re just starting out or you’re looking for opportunities to advance in your career, we encourage you to invest some time in your future by enrolling in one of these innovative programs.”

InvestUP will help expand existing training opportunities at four U.P. higher education institutions: Northern Michigan University, Bay College, Gogebic Community College and Michigan Tech University. Each institution will deliver its own unique training program designed to address local employers’ demands and needs.

For example, NMU will offer four manufacturing and cyber training opportunities for eligible applicants.

They include a two-week manufacturing production boot camp (hybrid of online and hands-on); two weeks of hands-on welding training; four weeks of online medical device advanced manufacturing training; and an online, 10-week Cisco certification technician training to build skills needed for working with Cisco data center system devices and operating software.

More information about these and the other programs will be posted on individual university websites as well as InvestUP’s website in the coming weeks.

A mobilelLab operated by Michigan Tech is a key asset, InvestUP said. The lab is a self-powered, expandable, 53-foot semi-trailer with spacious room that can be used as a classroom or configured for hands-on experiential learning.

The mobile lab will support the project by providing both outreach and training offered by Michigan Tech. The programming will be delivered at strategic locations across the U.P. to maximize its impact on targeted participants.

“There is enormous opportunity for skilled workers trained in advanced manufacturing,” said Adam Waltzer, vice president of operations at Able Medical Devices, in a news release. “The high-tech medical device sector is booming. Our industry needs trained people right now to help us keep pace with a steady stream of new innovations and advancements.”

Berglund said this program is a win-win for workers and manufacturers.

“Reselling people with mechatronics training opens up higher-wage opportunities for workers, while helping companies fill a critical need,” Berglund said. “This collaborative effort has yielded some innovative, sustainable and efficient programs with the potential to build a mechatronics workforce that we need now and in the future.”

At 3 p.m. Tuesday, InvestUP will host a virtual informational webinar and meetings with UP Michigan Works! and the participating universities. The webinar will provide an overview of the program as well as eligibility requirements and details on the training offered through the MEDC grant.

Following the general overview, attendees will have an opportunity to meet with the higher education partners one-on-one at their respective virtual booths. Registration for the webinar and meetings is required. Visit https://app.app.brazenconnect.com for details.