LANSING – Macomb County lawmakers joined the Michigan House today in voting overwhelmingly to preserve funding for Michigan's community colleges, a move that will protect vital workforce development programs and jobs at Michigan's 28 community colleges. The budget is the first of 15 departmental budgets to pass as the Legislature works toward the Sept. 30 budget deadline.
"Michigan's community colleges help thousands of residents who have lost their job through no fault of their own upgrade their skills and find new, good-paying jobs in growing, high-demand fields," said State Representative Fred Miller (D-Mount Clemens), Chair of the House Appropriations Community Colleges Subcommittee. "In order to turn Michigan's economy around, we need invest in our workers and higher education. Community colleges provide workers with the training they need to compete for jobs in a knowledge-based economy while creating the top-notch workforce that Michigan needs to attract emerging industries."
The budget passed today restores cuts that had been made by the Senate. Under that plan, Macomb Community College (MCC) stood to lose more than $180,000 in much-needed funding at a time when enrollment at MCC is up more than 6 percent over last year.
"Macomb Community College and all of Michigan's community colleges are vital to getting our workers back on the job, especially when it comes to programs like No Worker Left Behind," said State Representative Jon Switalski (D-Warren). "These local schools are a cost-effective way for both students and workers seeking new skills to get the training they need to land good-paying jobs. Supporting our community colleges is an investment in our current and future workforce, as well as in our state."
State Representative Jennifer Haase (D-Richmond) added: "Emerging industries and job providers want to locate and expand in states that can offer a highly skilled and highly trained workforce. Our community colleges offer affordable access to students of all ages and we have to keep that door open in order to prepare them for good-paying jobs and turn our economy around. This funding will help make sure that continues to happen."
The budget also included language to encourage community colleges to pursue cost-cutting measures to maximize their funding, including increasing efficiency, establishing joint ventures with businesses and other educational institutions, and collaborating on programs or consolidating services.
"Passing this budget today is an important step toward moving our state and workers into the 21st century economy," said State Representative Sarah Roberts (D-St. Clair Shores). "Through programs like its Center for Alternative Fuels, Macomb Community College continues to lead the way in training students and workers for jobs in renewable energy and other advanced technologies. Any cuts to MCC would put crucial programs like this in jeopardy, and that's something we can't afford."