MANUFACTURING
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To celebrate this monumental accomplishment in Holland Bowl Mill’s history, the team is inviting community members and visitors to join them over Labor Day weekend.
Founded on three generations of concrete innovation in the Kerkstra family, Mangrove combines decades of material expertise with advanced manufacturing to unlock a new level of design freedom in the built environment.
The awarded grants will help train, develop and retain up to 521 workers, including 104 new hires, 198 apprentices and 219 incumbent workers.
The annual career exploration event featured 309 professions showcased through 113 interactive exhibits led by 103 employers and educators. More than 8,100 students from 92 schools and homeschool groups across seven West Michigan counties participated in the event.
The company is liquidating its final inventory of machinery and equipment through a public online auction.
46 jobs on the 2026 list were not included on last year’s list, reflecting evolving employer needs and emerging opportunities.
The honors were presented during the 2025 West Michigan Works! annual board meeting.
The grants will help train, develop and retain more than 2,968 workers, including 880 new hires, 778 apprentices, and 1,310 incumbent workers.
The statewide honor celebrates outstanding achievements in talent development and economic resiliency through public-private collaboration.
The business will launch under the new name, while accelerating innovation.
Essential Service Awards categories include administrative/office worker, cleaning/housekeeping/groundskeeping, childcare, food service, government, health care/elder care, hospitality, nonprofit, retail, skilled labor and transportation.
New for 2025, hospitality has been added to the high-demand industries, which include construction and energy, health sciences, information technology, manufacturing, professional and administration, and agribusiness.
Through interactive exhibits and direct engagement with industry professionals, students experienced careers in six high-demand industries: agribusiness, advanced manufacturing, construction, health care, hospitality, and IT.
The Essential Service Awards recognize non-managerial frontline workers who go above and beyond their daily responsibilities and display integrity, passion and commitment.
She brings 35 years of experience in aligning human resources with business goals and fostering supportive and empowering work environments.
Nearly 9,000 students from Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Muskegon, Montcalm and Ottawa counties will explore high-demand careers through interactive exhibits and real-world interactions with professionals.
The awards will provide critical training resources across various industries, including agribusiness, healthcare, manufacturing and construction, which also includes mobility, energy and infrastructure.
Apprenticeships are paid work experiences that combine on-the-job and classroom learning.
The awards recognize individuals who go above-and-beyond in a service industry position.
Discover Manufacturing Week allows the region's employers to open their doors to local students, offering facility tours and hosting open houses.
The awards will support the training of 919 new hires, 387 new apprentices and 1,263 incumbent workers, significantly boosting job growth, skill development and workforce capabilities across multiple industries.
A series of Career Fair Carnivals throughout West Michigan will offer free food, family-friendly activities, job seeker resources and onsite interviews.
Haviland Enterprises, Inc. is commemorating its 90th anniversary as a supplier of chemicals for cleaning, water treatment, plating, and recreational water solutions.
The six-week summer program runs from June 24 to August 6 and provides enriching career readiness opportunities for youth ages 14 to 24 across Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon and Ottawa counties.
The annual event provides a dynamic platform for students to engage with industry professionals and participate in interactive experiences across a variety of five high-demand sectors.
Leaders of the MEDC and West Michigan Works! announced the state has surpassed its first-year campaign goal of recruiting and upskilling workers to pursue new ready-to-hire production roles in tech-forward industries like electric vehicles and mobility.
According to the report, nearly half of the top high-demand jobs are new additions for 2024.
Event sponsorship applications are being accepted through February 29.
Amidst rising costs and inflation, 10 area frontline workers were celebrated with Beverly A. Drake Essential Service Awards from West Michigan Works!. Honorees were recognized at The Economic Club of Grand Rapids meeting on February 5 and presented with a $100 gift card.