Oakland County-based global tier one supplier BorgWarner was recognized Wednesday with an Impact Award for its commitment to hiring Michigan talent for the $11 million expansion of its Powertrain Technical Center in Auburn Hills.
The award was given to BorgWarner by the Michigan Works! Association during a luncheon held in Lansing. The company was among 20 honored and the only one from Oakland County. They were nominated for the award by Oakland County Michigan Works! Lear Corp.'s Rochester Hills manufacturing facility was honored in 2015.
"I congratulate BorgWarner on receiving this recognition," Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said. "The company has long been an industry leader and remains an important employer and valuable corporate citizen in Oakland County."
BorgWarner, which has its world headquarters in Auburn Hills, said the expansion would create up to 180 jobs for its motor vehicle transmission and powertrain parts manufacturing. The company had global sales of $8 billion in 2015 and employees 30,000 people at 74 locations in 19 countries.
"We are honored to be recognized with the Michigan Works! Association Impact Award for our continued efforts to partner with economic development organizations in Michigan," said Erika Nielsen, director of global government affairs for BorgWarner who accepted the award. "Together we are strengthening the state's workforce and retaining valuable talent."
The company partnered with the Oakland County Michigan Works! Oak Park office to help recruit needed employees using social media and shared postings with Pure Michigan Talent Connect and its over 100 regional partners including colleges, universities, non-profit organizations and the Michigan Works! system. The company was also given $33,459 from the Skilled Trades Training Fund to help train 33 incumbent workers.
"State-initiated programs like the Skilled Trades Training Fund, Michigan New Jobs Training and Michigan Advanced Technician Training have helped BorgWarner address talent development challenges experienced by many in the automotive industry," Nielsen said. "We are grateful for the support we've received from the state and especially from Oakland County Michigan Works!"
Oakland County Michigan Works! has eight services centers in the county: Ferndale, Highland, Novi, Oak Park, Pontiac, Southfield, Troy, and Waterford.
Published: Fri, Apr 29, 2016
