20151012-NEWS--0001-NAT-CCI-CD_-- 10/9/2015 6:08 PM Page 1 Readers first for 30 Years Michigan Business Although the grape harvest is unpredictable CRAIN’S due to the weather, Michigan tasting rooms DETROIT BUSINESS are trying new tactics PAGE 35 OCTOBER 12-18, 2015 Focus: Hope loses funds, idles training By Sherri Welch
[email protected] Focus: Hope is suspending new en- rollment in its workforce training pro- grams until it secures funding for them, following employee pay cuts and reduced workweeks instituted over the summer. Nearly $3.2 million total in work- force training and related grants from William Jones: the Michigan Economic Development As- CEO says funds not sociation and Detroit Employment Solu- secured for new tions Corp. were not renewed or ex- classes. pired this year. Sources with knowledge of the situation say Focus: Hope did not hit the metrics for at least one state grant that it was awarded through the MEDC’s Community Ventures program for 2014 but lost this year. However, the program’s director, James Durian, said Focus: Hope hit the minimum metrics for the program. But that grant was awarded to two other groups deemed more capable for those programs. The Detroit nonprofit also received extensions on two other grants, one from the MEDC and the other from DESC, to complete the requirements of the grants, those agencies said. “If extensions were granted, both parties agreed exten- sions were appropriate,” Focus: Hope CEO William Jones SEE FOCUS: HOPE, PAGE 53 State may pull plug on renewable energy mandates wind power.