It’s only the ninth such designation in all of Michigan. 

The awards recognize individuals who go above-and-beyond in a service industry position.

As awareness of critical mental health issues in the construction industry grows, West Michigan Works! and its Construction Careers Council, will host Building Minds: A Conference on Mental Health in Construction.

Discover Manufacturing Week allows the region's employers to open their doors to local students, offering facility tours and hosting open houses.

The awards will support the training of 919 new hires, 387 new apprentices and 1,263 incumbent workers, significantly boosting job growth, skill development and workforce capabilities across multiple industries.

The six-week summer program runs from June 24 to August 6 and provides enriching career readiness opportunities for youth ages 14 to 24 across Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon and Ottawa counties.

The annual event provides a dynamic platform for students to engage with industry professionals and participate in interactive experiences across a variety of five high-demand sectors.

According to the report, nearly half of the top high-demand jobs are new additions for 2024.

Event sponsorship applications are being accepted through February 29.