Michigan trade schools report rapid growth, new campus plans to meet construction labor shortage

Chairwoman Jenkins Arnaud convened the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor and Economic Opportunity hearing where leaders of two industry-founded trade schools described rapid enrollment growth and new facilities aimed at addressing Michigan's construction labor shortage.

Keith Ledbetter, president and CEO of the Southeast Michigan Construction Academy (SEMCA), told the committee the nonprofit grew from the low hundreds of students to about 750 across five locations and said the organization will invest in a new 100,000-square-foot training center in Sterling Heights. "I'm proud to report that this morning ... our board chair is signing paperwork to purchase a new 100,000 square foot training center in Sterling Heights with 400 parking spaces," Ledbetter said.

The nut of the presentations was that industry-led, hands-on programs are producing job-ready workers and strong employer partnerships. "These are pipelines to meaningful high wage careers," Deanna Morley, vice president of SEMCA, said, describing an "earn while you learn" model in which many students work full time and attend classes in the evenings. Morley said SEMCA's employment rate for graduates "hovers around 90 percent." She said SEMCA removed typical barriers to entry — no wait lists, no entrance exams, no minimum GPA — and reported particular progress on diversity: "This past school year, 21% of our students were people of color. 21 female students enrolled in our programs across all trades."

Jen Schottke, president of the West Michigan Construction Institute (WMCI), described a newer nonprofit trade school that opened in January 2022 and serves high school students, adult learners and industry professionals. She said WMCI served about 150 adult learners in the last academic year and that 85% of their students were employed in the industry while training. Schottke described a dual-enrollment model with the Kent Intermediate School District in which high school students can earn industry-recognized credentials and, in some cases, waive initial apprenticeship semesters. "Students who complete their electrical 1 credential while in high school will be able to waive the first semester of their apprenticeship program," Schottke said.

Committee members questioned how high school students get credit and how programs are funded. Schottke and Morley said both schools work with local intermediate school districts and follow approved Career and Technical Education curricula (including NCCER) so participating students can earn credits such as fourth-year math and visual/performing/applied arts. On funding, Morley said SEMCA charges tuition averaging about $4,000 per year, similar to a community college, but noted employer-paid tuition and private scholarships often reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket costs for students. "There are very few instances that we will not help a student do everything we possibly can to leverage every fund that we know that is available," Morley said.

Both presenters emphasized employer partnerships that pay wages while employees train and sometimes cover tuition. Schottke described employers who hire students directly and fund continued training: she recounted a student hired by a general contractor whose employer paid tuition and wages and later paid for advanced courses.

Committee members also raised questions about capacity, instructor supply and program scalability. Morley acknowledged barriers — finding qualified instructors, material costs and curriculum navigation — and described SEMCA's goal of serving as a resource to school districts. Schottke said WMCI is planning to double next year’s high school enrollment and launch an electrical program at the postsecondary level.

The witnesses invited committee members to visit campuses and meet students and instructors as evidence of hands-on training and employer connections. No committee vote or formal action was taken at the hearing.