MEA Vice President Chandra Madafferi on Thursday joined Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and a bipartisan group of lawmakers and state business and education leaders in support of House and Senate bills creating the MI Opportunity Scholarship and Michigan Reconnect Program.

Opportunities abound for students and adults who complete skills certification training or obtain community college or university degrees, but not enough people can access those pathways today, Madafferi said during the event at Lansing Community College.

“Everyone in Michigan, no matter where they come from, deserves to know that they can get ahead here in our state,” she said. “The MI Opportunity Scholarship and Michigan Reconnect Program are exactly what we need to ensure all of our students can get a good job so they can support themselves and their families here in our state.”

SB 267, introduced by Senate Democratic Leader Jim Ananich (D-Flint), and HB 4464, introduced by Reps. Kennedy, Shannon, Brenda Carter, Koleszar, Stone, Pagan and Gay-Dagnogo, will establish the MI Opportunity Scholarship. The MI Opportunity Scholarship will ensure universal access to community college for every student in Michigan and bring down the cost of a four-year university for every low- and middle-income Michigan student who gets a B average in high school.

SB 268, introduced by Senator Ken Horn (R-Frankenmuth), and HB 4456, introduced by Reps. Frederick, Anthony, VanSingel, Kennedy, Calley, Tate, Shannon and Markkanen, will establish the Michigan Reconnect Program. The Michigan Reconnect Program will provide free skills-training programs for adults at community colleges to fill the tens of thousands of jobs currently in demand from Michigan businesses.

“These pathways will ensure every Michigander has a path to a good job so they can build a life for themselves right here in Michigan,” Whitmer said. “They’ll ensure that our businesses can attract the talent they need to thrive in their communities, and ensure that more people will want to move to our state to start their families. I’m proud to stand with members of both parties in the Legislature and business and labor leaders as we ensure every Michigander has a path to success.”