Newaygo, Mich. (July 18, 2017) – Digital Works (DW) is celebrating the launch of its newest program in Michigan on July 20 with an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony that’s open to the public. This event will bring together current students, program graduates, and stakeholders of Digital Works at The Stream, located at 1 State Road in Newaygo.
As part of the official ribbon cutting, sponsored by the River Country Chamber of Commerce, the second Digital Works program graduates received their certificates. (From left) Jackie Rees, Rob Traverse, Judy Myers, Julie Hadley, Salina Brown and Facilitator Colleen Buckley celebrate their accomplishments.
The Connected Nation program launched in April and provides training, digital literacy, and customer service skills, as well as job placement assistance and mentorship. The training program is offered at no charge to residents of Newaygo County, thanks to a two-year grant from the Fremont Area Community Foundation.
“With very few job options here, this experience was awesome,” Dee DeHaan, Digital Works graduate, said. “This program kept me thinking, and I believe there’s something in this for everybody.”
Digital Works graduates can use The Stream facility to search for jobs or use the faster internet connection to work online.
DeHaan, along with five others, completed the 80-hour DW training program in May and are currently pursuing careers in the customer service field or IT. The next class will begin in early August.
The Stream not only provides a location for classes but also offers memberships to graduates to work from an office space if they do not have adequate internet access at home.
“The best part about the location is it’s giving people the option to expand job possibilities for themselves, especially those who need to work from home and can’t due to internet connectivity issues,” Tammy Spring, Digital Works Operations Manager, said.
Digital Works graduates can use The Stream facility to search for jobs or use the faster internet connection to work online.
“A central component of economic development is encouraging the creation of relevant, in-demand jobs in the digital age,” Scott D. Faulkner, Chairman, Newaygo County Economic Development Organization, said. “Digital Works is proving an excellent fit to achieve that goal, and we are pleased that the City of Newaygo and The Stream are together playing a leading role in helping workers train for great jobs in this growing marketplace.”
An open house and tour of The Stream will begin at 10:30 a.m. Refreshments will be provided followed by a welcome from Digital Works Project Manager Colleen Buckley and Digital Works Director of Operations, Heather Delaney. In addition, River Country Chamber of Commerce Chairman Scott Swinehart will share more details about The Stream and all it offers area residents and businesses.
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Digital Works, a program of Connected Nation, connects people to leading-edge customer support and IT jobs for global corporations by providing training, mentorship, and job placement assistance, as well as the opportunity for advanced careers. Many program graduates benefit from the work-from-home opportunities available with the various Digital Works employer partners. Trainees without Internet access at home or those who prefer a more traditional office environment can choose to work from a Digital Works facility when available in his or her community.
Connected Nation is a leading technology organization committed to bringing affordable high-speed internet and broadband-enabled resources to all Americans so no one is left on the wrong side of the digital divide. We believe everyone belongs in a Connected Nation. For more information, please visit: www.connectednation.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.