DEARBORN – The Michigan Department of Information Technology in partnership with two other Michigan agencies on Thursday officially announced an initiative to develop, attract and retain IT jobs and investments in Michigan.

MDIT Director Ken Theis, in an interview from the CIO Summit in Dearborn, will work to make Michigan a destination for growing information, communications and technology companies and services. Working with the MDIT to create the New Economy Partnerships will be the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

?About a year ago we started combining IT expertise, workforce development and economic incentives in ?one-stop? fashion and winning investments for Michigan? said Theis. ?Today we?re formalizing that effort and engaging the private sector in developing proactive strategies and incentives. This partnership is not only benefiting Michigan?s economy, but it is enhancing government service for our citizens.?

The three-pronged approach is being measured on jobs and investment, workforce development and retention, as well as high-tech innovation and capability.

Michigan?s New Economy Partnerships effort is finalizing the development of an IT-specific toolkit for firms and job providers utilizing new and existing incentives. This includes targeted job-training resources to enable Michigan workers to compete within high-demand IT fields.

?Our four-year and community colleges are key partners in this endeavor,? said Stanley ?Skip? Pruss, Director of DELEG. ?We are developing cross-training programs for our displaced workers and providing opportunities for individuals entering the workforce for development into these high-growth industries.?

MEDC President Greg Main echosed Pruss? sentiments.

?With Michigan’s aggressive efforts to diversify the economy underway, the timing is right to evaluate how supporting targeted growth in the IT sector may accelerate that strategy,? said Main. ?We have the talent and drive to innovate and the cost structure and capacity to develop a national-caliber ICT backbone. In partnership with our IT and workforce resources, the MEDC is committed to finding the right economic development tools to achieve this.?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the fastest growing occupation in the U.S. through 2016 is network systems and data communications. Of the 30 fastest growing occupations, five are in the IT field.

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