Page 44 - FDI Alliance International Magazine | September 2018 1

ployees are looking to go directly to Chicago or
Indianapolis, and we need to work to draw talent
from LaPorte and Porter counties. We want to hire
local people.”

Students are coming out prepared for high-tech
jobs, Spencer said.

“It’s said that the Midwest moves a lot more slow-
ly than the rest of country,” he said. “But Northwest
Indiana and Southwest Michigan are leading the
way. There’s STEM education, good universities,
momentum, an amount of revitalization and a large
talent pool with adaptable skills. We tell employees
it’s not what they know but what they can learn. If
you can survive, you’ll thrive… We need to be able
to innovate quickly.”

Spencer said he was also impressed that the city of-
fered grants, such as for facade improvements, that
Michigan City hosted events that drew hundreds of
thousands to town like the Great Lakes Grand Prix
on Lake Michigan and the Taste of Michigan City
food festival, and that city leadership and econom-
ic development officials listen, such as when he first
paid a visit to The Economic Development Corpo- prepare students for a wide range of careers. speak with greater clarity in partnerships with indus-
ration Michigan City, Indiana and immediately got try, the Michigan City Chamber of Commerce and
an audience. “There’s an engineering program, an entry-level stakeholders. We need to expose students to more
construction class and at the LaPorte County Career workforce opportunities, such as by taking them to a
“It’s a huge thing,” he said. “They are attentive and and Technical Education Center, welding programs, conference in Chicago where they can learn about
listening and willing, even to get you in touch with culinary programs, automotive partnerships and manufacturing and technology.”
local landlords about office space. They’re always a a partnership with the construction trade union, as
phone call away.” well as opportunities with criminal justice, which has To that end, Michigan City schools recently hired
Michigan City Area Schools makes a point of listen- been very popular, and fire science, which includes a College and Careers Coordinator, Director who
ing to local employers to ensure it’s preparing both training for EMTs and local fire departments,” Ea- ensures students from kindergarten on are aware of
students who want to go on to college and those son-Watkins said. “We try to listen to key stakehold- options for local careers, such as by bringing indus-
who want to immediately enter the workforce, Su- ers in LaPorte County to make sure the work we do is try representatives in to give talks to elementary and
perintendent Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins said. totally aligned to the needs of the workforce.” middle school students. The hope is to ensure all stu-
dents end up with very good jobs, even if they’re not
The community has been supportive, raising Michigan City Area Schools not only listen to local likely or disposed to go on to college.
$10,000 in private donations in two weeks to send manufacturers and other key industry leaders in the
the state champion robotics team to the internation- community, it makes sure they’re speaking the same “One of the things that makes a difference in Mich-
al competition in Detroit. The school system has got- language, Eason-Watkins said. igan City is we work collaboratively with the eco-
ten engineering training funding from Project Lead “Educators spoke of pathways and standards and nomic development corporation and with the city
the Way and local employer Alcoa but is working to things of that nature,” she said. “But we need to to move the city forward,” Eason-Watkins said. “We
cater to the needs of the workforce and to local busi-
nesses because we understand education is integral
to the future.”

High school students from across LaPorte County get
acquainted with local manufacturing employers at a
“Made in LaPorte County” event that is held every
other year. It is an opportunity for employers to get
in front of students and share with them the products
that are made right in their communities.

“About 30 manufacturers spend the whole day with
young people who can see and feel and touch what
they make,” said Linda Woloshansky, president and
chief executive officer of the Center for Workforce
Innovations in nearby Valparaiso. “We make sure
the workforce gets developed from an early age so
there’s a pipeline of workers with the credentials they
need and work ethic to build the economy in North-
west Indiana.”

44 FDI ALLIANCE | SEPTEMBER ISSUE 2018