Besser-Backed College Lands $1.9 Million Job Training Grant

Officials for Alpena (Mich.) Community College and co-located World Center for Concrete Technology report that their proposal, Concrete Opportunities

Officials for Alpena (Mich.) Community College and co-located World Center for Concrete Technology report that their proposal, Concrete Opportunities and Solutions, has netted a $1.9 million U.S. Department of Labor grant. Issued under President Bush’s Community-Based Job Training program, it covers three years and will be used to develop an online certificate program with concrete-related content that targets existing industry workers; expand the present Concrete Technology degree program to accommodate an additional 20 out-of-state students; create a two-year academic program track with business, management, and supervision courses for students with concrete industry leadership ambitions; and, create a 1+1 program allowing students to transfer to Alpena Community after fulfilling general education requirements at other institutions. Concrete-specific coursework covered by the grant will take place in the World Center for Concrete Technology, which was dedicated in 2000 and features labs and classrooms sponsored by industry manufacturers and groups, plus a block-making line furnished by long-time ACC benefactor, Alpena-based Besser Co.

The Job Training Grants program aims to build community colleges’ capacity to equip workers with the skills required in growing industries, ACC officials note. From a pool of 429 entries, 72 community college partnerships were awarded a share of $125 million. Additional information on Concrete Opportunities and Solutions, including out-of-state student enrollment, can be obtained from ACC’s Don MacMaster, community-based job training grants project director, 989/358-7344; or, Mike Kollien, director of admissions, 989/358-7339.