After a year of putting together the partnerships and identifying curriculum requirements necessary for Michigan’s industrial sewing needs, The Makers Coalition DG3 announces that registration is now open for the state’s first Industrial Sewing Certificate Program (ISCP), with the first class launching Sept. 29, 2014 at the Henry Ford College M-TEC facility in Dearborn.
In response to Michigan businesses’ needs for skilled industrial sewers, Detroit Garment Group Guild (DG3), a local non-profit, and stakeholders partnered to create The Makers Coalition DG3, which is comprised of DG3, The Makers Coalition, Henry Ford College Michigan Technical Education Center (HFC M-TEC), The Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA Michigan Works!), Lear Corporation and other local employers.
The Industrial Sewing Certificate Program ensures that each student is trained in the skills necessary to begin working in a variety of cut and sew production industries, a rapidly growing industry, from automotive and apparel to upholstery.
This 6-week pilot program will be offered in during the day, Monday-Friday, for 180 hours of classroom and hands-on training. Lab time for students will also be available. An evening option will be added in the near future. This is a non-credit, skills-base training program. High quality, professional training will be delivered by subject matter experts from the Michigan sewing industry.
Once qualified, graduates are estimated to earn between $12-$16 per hour, according to industry surveys, with the possibility of upward movement within some organizations.
The cost of the program is $2,000 per student, however, funding is available for those who qualify. Potential students who would like to determine eligibility should contact their nearest Michigan Works! center. Center locations are available at www.michiganworks.org. For those paying out of pocket, call HFC M-TEC at 313.317.6600.
The role of SEMCA Michigan Works! includes recruiting and screening potential students, seeking to identify funding for those who qualify and assisting with job placement for students who complete the program.
For more information about the Industrial Sewing Certificate program, visit the DG3 website at www.detroitgarmentgroup.org or contact Karen Buscemi at 248.722.8407.