The U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Labor recently announced the launch of a $50 million partnership focused on workforce training for defense manufacturing.
The Michigan Maritime Manufacturing Initiative, also known as M3, will train workers at local community colleges in skills for maritime construction, particularly welding and machining, officials said. The Biden-Harris Administration is strategically investing in Michigan as part of a national economic and defense policy initiative aimed at meeting the Navy’s goal of increasing submarine production.
Michigan’s community colleges, including Macomb Community College and Oakland Community College, will serve as a resource for developing and providing advanced and technical training to address the Navy’s manufacturing supplier chain’s need for workers. Of the $50 million, $16 million will be used for an accelerated welding and computer numerical controlled machining training program to start this fall that will introduce a maritime-focused skilled trades pipeline.