Jackson, Mich. (WKHM) — Jackson College has received a Reconnect Community Action Grant from the Michigan Department of  Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential — known as MiLEAP.

The grant is part of an $8.1 million statewide investment aimed at boosting education and job readiness for adult learners.

With the funding, Jackson College will lead a new Workforce Development Collaborative, expand college and career navigation services, and study local workforce needs — working alongside the College and Career Access Center, the Chamber of Commerce, and Michigan Works! Southeast.

College Dean Jamie Vandenburgh says the initiative creates clear pathways to credentials and careers for Jackson County adults.

MiLEAP director Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea says the goal is to remove barriers to education and help more Michiganders succeed in today’s economy.

It’s all part of Michigan’s Sixty by 30 goal – getting 60% of working-age residents a postsecondary credential by 2030.

More information can be found at Michigan.gov/Sixtyby30grants.