Northwestern Michigan College has just received $500,000 in additional funding from the Michigan New Jobs Training Program and is looking for more companies to get involved. In January, NMC announced training agreements with five local companies translating to 62 new jobs in the region by 2016.

Here's how it works: NMC Training Services develops customized training/professional development programs for new employees at each participating company. The companies pay for the training and are then reimbursed over time as payroll tax dollars are diverted.

Is your company eligible? You must be looking to add full-time jobs at a new, existing or expanding business and the hourly pay must be $12.95 or higher. Any industry is welcome. If the funds are not utilized here, they will be allocated to another Michigan community college.

Deadline for applications is March 28. Want to see if you qualify? Contact Richard Wolin, director of NMC Training Services, at 995.2003 or via email.