Senator Slotkin visits Delta

By Blake Metiva

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – Senator Elissa Slotkin visited Delta College’s trade wings on April 6. During her visit, Slotkin made stops in Welding, CNC Machine Tool and Chemical Processes. After touring these labs, Slotkin took time to chat with members of the trades. 

During her visit, Slotkin made sure to encourage prospective students to attend Delta. 

“I’d encourage people, because we want people to have well-paying jobs,” Slotkin said. “Delta helps them do that.” 

Senator Slotkin had heard about Delta’s “Fast Start” training program that is done in collaboration with Michigan Works in the Great Lakes Bay. The program is half hands-on training with employers and half training in Delta’s state-of-the-art labs.  

 “We knew we wanted to visit on this trip and see in action some of the training going on,” she said. “I had heard about this program many years ago through Dow and heard about the program of going part-time to school and part-time to work. Then, right into a job if you graduate in good standing. This was an opportunity to see it in person.”

Slotkin also made mention of how quickly Michigan is losing skilled trades workers, and that other states are working hard to try and draw skilled Michiganders away.

“I can’t tell you how many senators are trying to steal away Michigan’s skilled tradesmen and women to come and live in their states,” Slotkin said. “Because everyone around the country is so desperate for this type of work. It’s our specialty here.”

Slotkin looked to take success stories back to Washington as well. 

“This is, for me, a way to take back to Washington real-life stories of what happens when you bring back scholarship money in the trades,” she said. “Unlike a four-year institution, people are going to be out in two semesters, making money. We’re trying to rebalance how money is distributed between four-year and two-year institutions in Washington.”