Gogebic Community College Awarded MIDSTP Grant
Gogebic Community College Receives $476,496 Grant to Expand Advanced Manufacturing Training in Western Upper Peninsula
IRONWOOD, Mich. September 29, 2026 - Gogebic Community College has been awarded $476,496 through the Michigan Industry-Driven Skills Training Program (MIDSTP) to expand advanced manufacturing training opportunities and strengthen the skilled workforce pipeline in the western Upper Peninsula.
The grant, awarded through the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), will support GCC’s efforts to increase access to hands-on, industry aligned training while bringing advanced technical education closer to the communities and employers it serves.
As part of the project, GCC will establish a complementary training laboratory at Trident Maritime Systems in Iron River, while continuing to utilize the college’s existing Skilled Trades Center in Ironwood. Together, the two locations will form a regional training network designed to expand access to advanced manufacturing education across the western Upper Peninsula.
The two training locations will use common curriculum, compatible equipment and shared instructional capacity, creating a coordinated approach to workforce development that responds directly to regional employer needs.
“This investment gives Gogebic Community College an opportunity to bring advanced technical training closer to the people and employers who need it,” said Glen Ackerman-Behr, business faculty member at Gogebic Community College. “In a rural area, we cannot always expect employees to travel an hour or more to access training. This grant allows us to reduce that barrier while building training around the skills employers actually need.”
The project will focus on advanced manufacturing skills that align with the needs of regional employers and the broader maritime and manufacturing industries. Through its partnership with Trident Maritime Systems and other industry partners, GCC will continue developing training opportunities that connect education directly to employment.
The MIDSTP grant is part of a broader statewide effort by LEO to strengthen Michigan’s maritime and advanced manufacturing talent pipeline. GCC was one of five Michigan community colleges awarded funding through the program, with more than $3 million awarded statewide for equipment purchases, technology upgrades, instructor professional development, recruitment efforts and improvements to training spaces.
Michigan’s investment in advanced manufacturing and maritime workforce development is intended to expand the state’s capacity to prepare workers for high demand occupations. GCC’s project brings that statewide effort to the western Upper Peninsula by creating a regional model for accessible, employer driven technical training.
“This is about more than adding equipment or creating another training site,” Ackerman-Behr said. “The goal is to create a model that can grow with the needs of employers and communities across the western Upper Peninsula. By connecting our Ironwood and Iron River locations, we can make training more accessible and build a stronger regional workforce.”
The project will operate through June 30, 2029, providing GCC with an opportunity to expand its advanced manufacturing training capacity, strengthen employer partnerships and develop new pathways into skilled technical careers.
Gogebic Community College’s MIDSTP project reflects the college’s continued commitment to providing accessible, career-focused education and supporting the economic vitality of the western Upper Peninsula.
