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St. Senator Ken Horn Recognized as Legislator of the Year by Michigan Works! Association

Michigan Business Network
September 28, 2019 12:00 PM

Image result for Michigan Works AssociationFullerton Tool Company receives $65,000 Going PRO Talent Fund Award from Sen. Horn during celebration.

LANSING, MI (Sep 30, 2019) – The Michigan Works! Association honored Senator Ken Horn (R-Frankenmuth) on September 27, at the Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! Service Center in Saginaw, for his extraordinary leadership in advancing Michigan’s talent and economic development efforts.gptfIn 2018, Governor Rick Snyder signed into law a bill sponsored by Sen. Horn that codified the Going PRO Talent Fund into state law. Since 2014, the State of Michigan has dedicated over $99.7 million in competitive awards to more than 2,300 Michigan companies through the program, originally known as the Skilled Trades Training Fund, resulting in the training of over 94,000 individuals.

“I’m honored to receive this award from the Michigan Works! Association,” said Horn. “In partnership with Michigan Works!, I’ve been advocating for skilled trades training since first becoming a state legislator. Over the years, I’ve heard from countless employers who are struggling to find qualified workers. Last term, I sponsored Senate Bill 946 to bring certainty to the Going PRO Talent Fund and ensure great jobs will be available in the future. Our state is rooted in manufacturing and skilled trades, and programs like this are working to put Michigan back on the map.”

This change to the program ensures that prior year investments in the fund won’t lapse at the end of a fiscal year, but instead stay with the program for years to come. Additionally, this legislation expanded the timeline for training to be completed.  In the past, training generally had to be completed in the first half of the calendar year.  Now, training can occur within a year of the award, which is something employers need to be more effective.

“Through his work as chairman of the Senate Economic and Small Business Development Committee, Sen. Horn has served as a champion of workforce and economic development efforts, including local programming and statewide funding,” said Luann Dunsford, CEO of the Michigan Works! Association. “This award demonstrates our deep appreciation for Sen. Horn’s support of the hard work our Michigan Works! network does across the state every day to help our fellow Michiganders find their desired career path.”

The Going PRO Talent Fund is implemented locally by the Michigan Works! network which conducts outreach to inform employers of the program. Employers with a need for skill enhancement, including apprenticeship and training programs for current employees or individuals to be hired, may be eligible to apply for the Going PRO Talent Fund. The application period for the Fiscal Year 2020 grants runs from September 12 through October 2, 2019. A list of Michigan Works! contacts for employers can be found on the Going PRO Talent Fund website.

Image result for Michigan Works! Great Lakes Bay Service CenterWhile at the Michigan Works! Great Lakes Bay Service Center in Saginaw, Horn had the opportunity to participate in the presentation of a Going PRO Talent Fund grant check for $65,000 to Fullerton Tool Company.

Fullerton Tool Company is a family-owned company, located in Saginaw since it was founded in 1942, that proudly manufactures solid carbide cutting tools for a wide variety of industries. They are the only location in the world that manufactures Fullerton brand solid carbide cutting tools.

“Fullerton Tool Company believes that people are the very heart and soul of our operations and our success, as outlined even in our Core Values.” said Katelyn Shultz, Fullerton Tool’s Human Resource Director.  “That said, we spend tens of thousands of dollars on employee training annually and it’s an amazing opportunity to be able to have the state’s help in subsidizing those costs which help us achieve (and exceed) our goal of improving our workforce. Thanks to the Going PRO Talent Fund we’ve been able to take our training plans to the next level so that we can truly excel in advanced manufacturing and become even more of a leader in our industry.”

Chris Rishko, Chief Executive Officer for Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! echoed those sentiments.

“The Going PRO Talent Fund has been the catalyst for outstanding opportunities across the Great Lakes Bay Region,” said Rishko. “The Going PRO grants provide companies like Fullerton Tool the opportunity to provide trainings programs that upscale their workforce and increase productivity. This is an opportunity for us to thank Senator Horn for championing this important piece of legislation and making Michigan’s workforce a priority.”

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Established in 1987, the Michigan Works! Association fosters high-quality employment and training programs serving employers and workers by providing support activities and a forum for information exchange for Michigan's talent development system. For more information, visit http://www.michiganworks.org, or call (517) 371-1100.

  • Ken Horn Legislator of the Year Award

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