Commission awards $1.35 million to LAHC to expand workforce and service center

The Wayne County Commission approved a three-year grant services contract committing $1,350,000 to Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities (LAHC) to expand a workforce education and resource development center in a renovated former church building.

Waseem Mahfuz, LAHC chief executive officer, described a multi-year investment and facility renovation in which LAHC reported a prior $4,000,000 investment to revamp the building into headquarters with training rooms, conference space and a food pantry. Mahfuz said LAHC served more than 60,000 individuals in 2024 across Wayne County programs including education, youth services, workforce development and mental-health supports. He told commissioners that the total cost of the new project is $3,500,000, supported by a $500,000 HUD grant and $1,500,000 from the State of Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, with the county contribution at $1,350,000.

Commissioners asked how LAHC's work differs from other workforce investments and whether the countywould be duplicating services. Mahfuz said LAHC emphasizes youth development, scholarships and mental-health services alongside workforce programming and that the organization coordinates with local partners to avoid duplication and uses memoranda of understanding when overlapping services exist.

Corporation counsel clarified that the agreement was amended to require the entity to utilize the facility for the public-purpose social services funded by the county for 10 years, reflecting the county's investment in the facility portion of the project.

The commission approved the grant on a motion by Commissioner Kenlock with a second from Commissioner Baduan.