The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber Board of Directors has unanimously endorsed Lake Michigan College’s two millage renewal proposals appearing on the November 4th ballot. Why? Because our economy depends on the skilled workers Lake Michigan College produces.
Ask any local employer, and they’ll tell you the same story: finding qualified workers is their single biggest challenge. It’s not just about wages, benefits, or workplace culture, although those matter. It’s about finding candidates with the technical skills, industry certifications, and hands-on training that modern jobs demand.
For nearly 80 years, LMC has been our region’s foremost solution to that problem. When law enforcement faced mass retirements, LMC revived its Police Academy and graduated 27 new officers in just ten months. When the pandemic exposed healthcare shortages, its nursing program achieved a 100% pass rate on the national exam. When manufacturers needed technicians immediately, LMC launched five-week accelerated programs serving over 40 employers. When Berrien County needed career training but lacked a tech center, LMC partnered with Berrien RESA and saved taxpayers millions.
That same spirit of collaboration extends beyond the classroom. Together with the Chamber, Berrien RESA, and local employers, LMC helped launch the Berrien Talent Collaborative—Michigan’s first countywide youth apprenticeship program. This groundbreaking initiative connects high school students directly with employers, offering paid experience, industry credentials, and a clear pathway to local employment.
We appreciate LMC because it doesn’t wait for directives from Lansing or Washington. Instead, it listens to employers, identifies gaps, and acts on local needs. That kind of agility is exactly what our region needs to remain competitive, and the results speak for themselves. SmartAsset ranks LMC among the top 15 community colleges in America and #1 in Michigan for two consecutive years.
This November, LMC is asking voters to renew two critical millages:
- Operational Millage (0.665 mills): Unchanged since 2006, this millage funds operations, faculty, student services, and programs, and represents 20% of LMC’s budget.
- Capital Millage (0.24 mills): Reduced from 0.48 mills, this millage funds facility maintenance, technology, and equipment aligned with industry standards.
In an era of rising costs, this represents extraordinary fiscal stewardship. LMC is doing more with less—delivering measurable outcomes while reducing its tax burden on property owners.
Yet, despite the proposed reduction, there are some who argue it’s better to vote no for additional savings. The mathematics of decline disagree.
Without skilled workers, the region’s economy will stagnate. Jobs will leave our community or never arrive. Personal incomes and property values will suffer and our quality of life will begin to erode. LMC prevents this cycle, producing over 1,000 graduates each year who fill local jobs, earn strong wages, buy homes, and reinvest in our community, resulting in an estimated social and economic impact of $426 million per year.
Economies don’t run on scenery or sentiment–they run on skilled workers. Simply put, that means the pathway to regional prosperity runs through Lake Michigan College.
Sponsored By:
