Grant will improve public safety in Genesee County with job support for returning citizens
FLINT—Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-08) recently announced new federal funding for Mott Community College’s Flint/Genesee Pathway Home Program, which aims to reduce crime and improve public safety in mid-Michigan.
The $2,999,892 grant, awarded through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Pathway Home 4 program, will be used to provide help formerly incarcerated individuals find jobs and transition back into the community. Participants will receive education, job training and one-on-one counseling to help secure and retain good-paying jobs after being released from jail.
“I am proud to have secured federal resources that will help reduce crime in mid-Michigan and help formerly incarcerated citizens return to society and find employment,” said Kildee.
“Mott Community College is committed to changing lives, and the Pathway Home program is a perfect fit in our efforts to provide returning citizens with the training that will allow them to be successful and contributing members of society,” said MCC President, Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea.
“We are thankful for Congressman Kildee’s efforts to secure funding for this program,” Walker-Griffea added.
“The role of MCC’s Workforce and Economic Development division in the Flint and Genesee Pathway Home program is to provide the education and training for returning citizens that will lead to employment and a career path offering a sustaining wage,” said MCC Associate Vice President for Workforce and Economic Development, Robert Matthews.
“We applaud Congressman Kildee’s efforts to help provide further workforce opportunities for all” added Matthews.
Mott Community College will partner with the Genesee County Jail and the Sheriff’s Department’s IGNITE Program to employ a team of Reentry Navigators who will serve individuals within 20-270 days of their scheduled release and continue working with them after.
Congressman Kildee has long worked to increase funding to help keep mid-Michigan neighborhoods safe. Last year, Congressman Kildee secured $768,000 for the IGNITE program through his Community Project Funding initiative. In December, Kildee secured $4.3 million for eight mid-Michigan law enforcement agencies and the Michigan State Police, to make critical equipment upgrades, improve police officer training and meet the public safety needs of each community.
