LANSING – State Representative Marcia Hovey-Wright (D-Muskegon) welcomed the news that Muskegon Community College’s Downtown Center will receive a $4.1 million grant that will be used to train skilled trades students in fields such as welding, machining and manufacturing automation.

“These are skills that are highly sought after by area employers, which will give Muskegon Community College graduates a good start on establishing promising careers,” Hovey-Wright said. “This grant will allow the college to install state-of-the-art equipment that will ensure Muskegon has highly trained workers, which in turn will attract companies with good-paying jobs to locate and grow in our community.”

The grant is part of the Community College Skilled Trades Equipment Program, and grant funds are to be used to pay for equipment installation, renovations and instructor training. Muskegon Community College will match the grant with an additional $2.6 million for the project. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $7.2 million, with additional funds coming from bonds approved by Muskegon County voters in 2013.

“I look forward to the construction and opening of Muskegon Community College’s new Downtown Center,” Hovey-Wright said. “This project shows what can happen when a community college, its community and the state come together to create outstanding educational opportunities for local residents.”