Grand Haven-based Shape Corporation is an automotive parts designer and tester of metal and plastic components. That includes emerging Electric Vehicle manufacturing. In need of additional highly skilled workers, it partnered with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and West Michigan Works! employment agency.
“We leveraged our public-private partnership with these two agencies in the last year to boost our recruitment marketing and hiring for our local production needs and to develop technical training to upscale Shape’s team members.”
That’s Shape President and CEO Mark White. In the first six months of the “Make It In Michigan” recruitment campaign focused on advanced manufacturing and IT jobs, Shape has hired more than 1,300 workers.
As Michigan faces the challenges of population loss, the MEDC’s marketing campaign is focused on advertising West Michigan job opportunities across the Great Lakes region. It says in six months, there were more than 130 million impressions and 3,400 job leads.
“Our approach to talent is different.”
Kerry Ebersole Singh is MEDC President/Chief of Talent Solutions and Engagement Officer.
“It’s focused on specific, in-demand industries with incredible opportunities for growth like electric vehicles, mobility and semiconductors.”
U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten, a Grand Rapids Democrat joined with Republican Michigan Senator Roger Victory touting the bipartisan program touting public-private partnerships.