Students invited to apply on the spot for program that teaches advanced manufacturing skills while providing a paycheck

Individuals interested in pursuing an education in a technical field while earning a paycheck in the Flint area are invited to a placement event that allows them to apply for the MAT² program.

LANSING, Mich. – Individuals interested in pursuing an education in a technical field while earning a paycheck from a participating employer in the Flint area are invited to attend a placement event that will allow them to apply and get qualified for the Michigan Advanced Technician Training (MAT²) program offered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

“The MAT² initiative is focused on meeting employer needs and will equip students with experience and skills they need to succeed in today’s high-tech world,” said MEDC President and CEO Michael A. Finney. “This placement event will provide students with a streamlined way to apply on site, free of charge, and get qualified for this great program that will allow them to earn an associate’s degree at no cost, get paid, gain critical work skills, and end up with guaranteed employment in an in-demand field.”

The MAT² Super Saturday session, taking place Feb. 8 at Mott Community College in Flint, will allow students to apply and qualify on the spot for MAT², an innovative training program that combines classroom instruction with paid work experience in a three-year, no-cost program in the fields of mechatronics, design and visualization, and information technology.

Students will be able to take a placement test onsite, apply to the MAT² program and get qualified on the spot. To participate, students must bring a photo I.D., documentation with Michigan address (if not on the photo I.D.), an updated resume (electronic version preferred) and letters of reference (optional).

Students are also required to apply at Mott Community College by Feb. 5. To apply, visit www.mcc.edu and click on “apply online.”

The Super Saturday event will take place on Saturday, Feb. 8 at Mott Community College Workforce Development located at 709 N. Saginaw St. in Flint. Students should arrive at 9:45 to sign in. Testing will begin at 10:00 a.m. and typically takes about two hours. If a student has already taken the ACCUPLACER test in the past six months, they can bring their scores and will not be required to take the test again.

Accepted MAT² students will earn an associate’s degree from a participating community college while they earn a paycheck and gain on the job experience with a participating company. Tuition is paid by the employer and in exchange, the student commits to remaining on the job for at least two years after successful completion of the program.

The MAT² participating employers include:

• Brose – Delivers mechatronic systems and electric drives to automotive manufacturers and suppliers
• Cadillac Products Automotive Company – Designs, develops and manufactures creative and cost effective products including a wide variety of protective plastic, exterior and interior acoustical and energy management parts for the automotive industry
• Detroit Diesel – Manufactures a complete line of heavy-duty diesel engines, axles and transmissions for the on-highway and vocational market
• EMAG - Umbrella of companies that manufacture transmission, engine and chassis components covering the entire spectrum of machining processes in the metal working industry
• FTE Automotive – Partner in the development and production of applications used in powertrain and braking systems for the automotive industry
• Heller – Manufactures 4-axis and 5-axis machining centers, multi-tasking machining centers, flexible manufacturing systems and crankshaft and camshaft milling and turning machines for; aerospace, automotive, agriculture, arms, construction, general machining, medical, power generation and trucking industries
• INERGY – Supplier of complete plastic fuel systems and emission reduction related fluids systems to car manufacturers
• KOSTAL – Develops and manufactures technologically advanced electronic, electro-mechanical and mechatronic products
• New Center Stamping – Produces predominately past model service parts for the automotive industry
• Proper Group International – Innovator in the plastic molding industry, delivering rapid prototype development to sophisticated injection molds for the transportation industry
• ZF – International supplier of automotive driveline and chassis technology

For more information on the MAT² program, please visit http://www.mitalent.org/mat2/.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.