What’s A Tech Job?

White Cloud Jr. High students listening to Kathy Pope, Fremont Area Community Foundation, speak about technology careers in finance.

County Students Experience Tech Week

​Photos by Julie Burrell

Newaygo County, MICH (October 4, 2023): In September, the Newaygo County Economic Development  Partnership, powered by The Right Place, collaborated with Newaygo County school districts and local  employers to host various Tech Week events.  

Through a partnership with Tech Week Grand Rapids and funding from the Michigan Economic  Development Corporation, G-M Wood Products, Fremont Area Community Foundation and the  Newaygo County Economic Development Partnership, over 620 students participated in Newaygo  County events.  

Julie Burrell, Economic Development Director, coordinated a career speaker series at each of the five  Newaygo County middle schools. The event helped students answer the question, “What is a Tech  Job?” and highlighted tech careers in manufacturing, healthcare, finance, education and agriculture.  

This first-time event featured speakers from G-M Wood Products, Fremont Area Community  Foundation, H&S Companies, NCATS, Family Healthcare, Choice One Bank and Riveridge Cider.  

Riveridge Cider’s Enhancement Director, Jamie Kober, shared, “Riveridge regularly participates in  opportunities that engage the community and educates on the good works of agriculture and  the benefits of produce in a healthy diet. Tech Week allowed us to share that message with younger  community members as well as point out career paths to our future workforce.”
  
In November, interested students who participated in Tech Week events will have an opportunity to  visit the Newaygo County Career Tech Center, to learn about 3D Printing, programming robots and how  to attend the center’s Tech Program once they are in high school. 

These events were hosted in partnership with Tech Week Grand Rapids. The second annual Tech Week  Grand Rapids occurred September 18-23, 2023. The week-long “unconference” was home to more than  40 events, 45 community partners, and more than 13,000 attendees. One of the goals of this year’s Tech  Week Grand Rapids was to highlight regional collaboration; events took place in Kent, Newaygo, Ottawa, Barry, Ionia, Montcalm, and Muskegon counties.  

The Newaygo County Economic Development Partnership has prioritized fostering education and  industry collaboration in its new strategic plan. Tech Week is one of several initiatives planned for the  next three years.