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Networks Northwest highlights apprenticeships and regional services in annual report to county
Summary
The 10-county regional organization Networks Northwest told the Grand Traverse County board it served about 350 local youth in 2024, runs more than 40 programs across workforce, business and planning lines, and emphasized apprenticeships and partnerships as federal funding uncertainty looms.
Janie McNabb, CEO of Networks Northwest, told the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners that the regional organization’s workforce, business and community-planning programs serve residents across 10 counties and that roughly 49% of its funding is federal. McNabb said the agency’s Northwest Michigan Works service centers—including the Traverse City office—served about 350 young people in Grand Traverse County during 2024 and that the group runs more than 40 programs overall.
McNabb said the organization prioritizes apprenticeships and has helped local businesses create on-the-job training programs in occupations ranging from automotive technicians and electricians to medical assistants and early childhood education. “Apprenticeship is so customizable; it gets people earning a paycheck while they’re learning,” she said.
The report noted partnerships with Northwest Education Services and the Apex Accelerator, which assists local firms in selling to government markets. Commissioners asked how proposed federal and state budget consolidations could affect services; McNabb said one White House budget recommendation would have consolidated programs and could reduce funding by about 25% unless Congress acts, and that Networks Northwest is engaging regional members of Congress about the risk.
The presentation included regional planning work in Grand Traverse County—master-plan assistance for Long Lake Township, TIF planning for Fife Lake, and a parks-and-rec plan for Kingsley—and described the organization’s role in metropolitan planning and asset management. McNabb said the agency’s budget supports a staff and infrastructure that can secure additional grants for local projects.
Commissioners commended the report and asked for specifics about local apprenticeships; McNabb said available apprenticeships in Grand Traverse County include electricians, carpenters, utility line workers, CNC and automotive occupations, among others, and that interested residents should contact the Northwest Michigan Works service center in Garfield.
The county received the report and had no immediate funding requests attached to the presentation. The board asked to be kept apprised of program impacts and potential funding shortfalls as federal and state budgets evolve.
