Celebrating Success
Paragon Metals, Inc. is a Tier 1 and Tier 2 supplier of automotive, truck, industrial and heavy equipment to Ford, Chrysler, General Motors, Volvo, and recently expanded its Michigan footprint by adding another facility in the Hillsdale Industrial Park. In order to adequately staff growth, the company worked closely with Michigan Works! to apply for the Going PRO Talent fund and was awarded $18,000 to jumpstart electrical apprenticeships and hire 10 new employees, such as Cole Breault.
"Without the Going PRO training money we wouldn’t be in as good as a position as we are now. This is a huge benefit for not just our employees, but for economic development in the region."
Cole Breault was a recent high school graduate with no prior work experience. Michigan Works! Southeast connected him with Paragon Metals who were happy to hire him thanks to additional funding from the GPTF grant.
"I feel more confident and I feel less intimidated by the career/working kind of environment. It makes it a little bit easier…"
As a result of this growth – and the Going PRO Talent Fund that helped make it possible Paragon Metals and Cole Breault have both become vibrant parts of the economic resurgence in Hillsdale County.