Discussion centers on skilled trades

From the Hillsdale Daily News:

Congressman Tim Walberg hosted a community forum on jobs and skilled trades education at Hillsdale Community Library on Friday afternoon.

The Republican representative was joined for the panel discussion by four county representatives whose work has a direct impact on the development of the county’s workforce: Bill Nobles, Brooke Ballee-Stone, Donny Crumbay and Sue Smith.

Nobles, heads up the Litchfield Regional Training Center, Ballee-Stone is the principal of the Hillsdale Area Career Center, Crumbay handles human resources and corporate training for Jonesville’s Martinrea and Sue Smith is the executive director of the Hillsdale County Economic Development Partnership.

The panel was joined by a group of more than 20 community members, including State Rep. Eric Leutheuser.

Walberg opened up the discussion with a brief 10-minute speech on the need for a renewed emphasis on the importance of skilled trade training, and cited his support for Gov. Rick Snyder’s $100 million Marshall Plan for Talent, which aims to invigorate training and support programs for Michigan residents who want to pursue education for jobs outside the structure of a 4-year college degree.

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