KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Kalamazoo Public Schools (KPS) have announced that they have won a competitive grant to help students get skill sets that could lead directly to jobs.
The $25,000 grant, which comes from the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeships (PAYA), also comes with more than a million dollars of support from the national organization.
It will be used to administer the new “Career Launch Kalamazoo” program, training students to enter the economy where they are needed most.
“In the Kalamazoo region, the four high-demand careers are in education, manufacturing, healthcare and IT,” Superintendent Rita Raichoudhuri said.
She says students will become apprentices in the schools, as well as the private and non-profit sectors.
“Through this partnership, our students will be placed with employers at Bronson Healthcare, Flowserve, and Mann and Hummel,” Superintendent Raichoudhuri said. “These opportunities will provide our students with the vital skills needed to succeed in the world of work.”
Over 200 school districts applied for the PAYA grants, and Kalamazoo was one of just six to win one.
— John McNeil contributed to this reporting —
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