Northwestern Michigan College became the first college in Michigan this month to offer students the Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates program (JMG), a partnership with Northwest Michigan Works! and Networks Northwest.

Under JMG, NMC students between ages 16-24 are eligible to connect with Employment Readiness Specialist Lisa Baldyga to match with student mentors in their field, get paid work experience or job shadowing opportunities and internships, and other beneficial career opportunities. The services are in addition to resume and cover letter review and interview skills already offered by NMC Career Services.

According to NMC, the program helps set up students for initial career success. Financial assistance with job equipment such as tools or work boots, uniforms, bus passes or gas cards for transportation to work is also available. JMG participants can also take part in legislative and leadership days with the state and talent tours with local businesses, which help create a sense of belonging to NMC programs and the greater community. JMG and career resources will also be developed for Moodle, NMC’s online course management system, that students can access for employment assistance. JMG is the leading program of Youth Solutions, Inc., a youth opportunity organization delivering employability and education services to young people across the state.

"We expect that the opportunities, mentorship, guidance, and community created by this program will greatly increase the ability for participating students to successfully earn their college degrees and move on to sustainable careers in their field of interest,” says Kim Bordeau, manager of Program Success-North for Youth Solutions.

In addition to the new program at NMC, Northwest Michigan Works! coordinates JMG programs at Cadillac’s Mackinaw Trail Middle School, Cadillac Public and Innovation High Schools, CASMAN Academy in Manistee, Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District, the North Ed Career-Tech Center, the Wexford-Missaukee Career-Tech Center, and drop-out recovery programs in Cadillac, Kalkaska, Manistee, and Traverse City.