Michigan Department of Career Development Announces Partnerships and Funds Provided for Dislocated DaimlerChrysler Employees

    LANSING, Mich., March 21 The Michigan Department of Career
Development (MDCD) today announced that it will provide a $500,000 grant to
Oakland County Michigan Works! for services aimed at transitioning
DaimlerChrysler Corporation employees separated as part of the company's
workforce reduction initiative into new work.
    Auburn Hills-based DaimlerChrysler recently laid off hundreds of its
professional employees ranging from clerical to upper-management positions.
The automaker's headquarters had employed about 12,000 individuals.  The
Michigan Department of Career Development partnered with DaimlerChrysler to
provide employees with a variety of services, including stress management,
financial planning, resume writing, and job search techniques.
    The MDCD Dislocated Worker Program is designed to provide assistance
through pre-layoff activities and linkages to both Michigan Works! Service
Centers and the Michigan Unemployment Agency.  Specifically, the grant will
provide comprehensive retraining or re-employment services tailored to the
workers' individual needs, including long-term job preparation.
    "The Michigan Department of Career Development is eager and ready to help
the laid-off DaimlerChrysler employees," Dr. Barbara Bolin, MDCD director,
said.  "We have many resources and programs that can provide substantial help
in situations like this, and we will be working with DaimlerChrysler, Oakland
County Michigan Works!, and the Troy Career Center to make certain that those
persons who could benefit from these services and programs are aware of them."
    Michigan Works! has contracted with the Troy Career Center to provide the
direct services to separated DaimlerChrysler employees.  Orientation services
to learn more about unemployment and transitional career benefits for these
employees began March 19 and will continue through March 23 at the Michigan
State Management Education Center at 811 W. Square Lake Road and at Walsh
College at 3838 Livernois Road.  Both locations are in Troy.
    DaimlerChrysler, the Michigan Department of Career Development, Oakland
County Michigan Works!, and the Michigan Unemployment Agency have established
a strategic planning partnership called a Joint Adjustment Committee (JAC) to
coordinate comprehensive re-employment services for laid-off Chrysler Group
employees.  The JAC is chaired by William Burrell, retired DaimlerChrysler
manager of organization development, and funded by the MDCD.
    "Joint Adjustment Committees are considered to be a best practice response
to major dislocations," said Jim Houck, director of MDCD's Workforce
Transition Unit.  "The JAC will ensure that essential career transition
opportunities tailored to the needs of individuals will be provided, and the
committee will encourage laid-off DaimlerChrysler employees to utilize them."
    The Michigan Department of Career Development helps workers find jobs and
employers recruit and train skilled workers.  To this end, the state's new
career and training development agency is working with K-12 schools, community
colleges and local Workforce Development Boards toward the establishment of a
comprehensive career development system.  For more information, visit the
Department's Web site at http://www.MDCD.org/ .