Newaygo, Michigan is home to a population of fewer than 50,000 people. With minimal opportunity for job growth, Digital Works has increased that opportunity for some of its residents. The new center is located inside The Stream in downtown Newaygo, among other local businesses along the Muskegon River. Newaygo Projects Manager, Colleen Buckley, began teaching Digital Works (DW) classes on April 17, 2017. She began with six students, and there are already plans to open a second class in June.
Digital Works at The Stream in Newaygo
Digital Works at The Stream in Newaygo
Digital Works Operations Manager, Tammy Spring, believes that the best part about the new location is that it’s giving people the option to expand job possibilities for themselves, especially those who need to work from home or those who can’t work from home due to Internet connectivity issues. Spring explains that after students have completed classes, they have two options: 1) they can work from home provided their home meets adequate Internet connectivity requirements and they have sufficient hardware and software available; or 2) they can work in an office cubicle at The Stream if they’re not able to work from home and need a designated work space.
Digital Works Newaygo student, Kalli Mills.
“For some of these students, it’s really a must that they’re able to work from home,” Spring said. “The opening of this new facility will enable our students and graduates to get back into the workforce and actually open them up to new opportunities. Simply put, for these individuals, it’s now possible to earn a living while staying at home.”
Digital Works Newaygo student, DeAnne DeHanne.
A grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for the Newaygo location in July. By the time the ceremony rolls around, Digital Works – Newaygo will most likely have several graduates with job placements ready to celebrate their new career paths.
The Digital Works program at The Stream is made possible by a grant from the Fremont Area Community Foundation.
About the Author: Rachel O’Morrow is a junior studying strategic communication at Ohio University in the E.W. Scripps
School of Journalism. Rachel’s areas of interests are public relations, digital marketing, as well as creating branded content. She writes for several Ohio University campus publications and is a Creative Head for the student-led public relations and advertising firm to help businesses reach their audience.