Piston Group Selected for MEDC Training Grant

DETROIT, Aug. 19, 2004 -- Detroit Empowerment Zone-based Piston Group today announced it will receive approximately $57,000 in Economic Development Training (EDTJ) grants provided by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). The grants were awarded to six Michigan colleges, universities and community foundations to implement the training.

Training for the Piston Group will be implemented through Henry Ford Community College which received a total of $400,000 in grant funding. With this funding, Piston will be able to provide training for nearly 90 current and potential employees.

"Our biggest asset is a skilled and qualified workforce," said Vinnie Johnson, chairman and CEO, Piston Group. "With access to high-tech manufacturing training, we are able to recruit and maintain the type of employees that will grow our business and allow us to hire additional workers. It's a win-win for everyone involved."

The funding is part of the MEDC's new EDTJ Manufacturing Competitiveness initiative which is designed to help enhance the skills of Michigan's manufacturing workforce and encourage collaboration between regional employers. The program aims to streamline the training process by serving several companies through a single grant to make the best use of state funding. The program requires the companies receiving training to provide a 30 percent minimum funding match.

In her 2004 State of the State address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm announced a focused, seven-point plan for economic growth. Strengthening Michigan's workforce is part of that plan. EDTJ funding is one of the key tools being used to develop a highly trained pool of workers to enhance Michigan's business-friendly climate.

The types of training offered include lean manufacturing, process improvement, quality management subsystems, the Six Sigma measure of quality and other manufacturing-related skills and processes including certification by ISO (International Organization for Standardization).

Detroit Empowerment Zone-based Piston Group is comprised of five automotive supplier companies including Piston Automotive; JL Automotive, a joint venture with Lear Corporation; Piston Modules LLC, a joint venture with Continental Teves; PASA Modules LLC, a joint venture with Sachs Automotive; and Custom Molders Inc. Piston Group facilities are located in Michigan, Delaware and North Carolina. For more information, go to www.pistongroup.com .