New job portal to help displaced mine workers

MARQUETTE — On August 4th, 2016, the world changed for many workers in Marquette County. With the idling of the Empire Mine in Palmer, hundreds of employees soon found themselves without jobs. Starting next month, displaced workers will have a new place to look for a new place to work.

Match UP is an online portal designed through a collaboration between the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Lake Superior Community Partnership, and UPWARD Talent Council. The purpose of the portal is to connect the skilled workforce from the Empire with employers in the area.

“It’s employers that are looking specifically for employees with their skill sets, so it’s [a] really quick, really easy way to make that match,” said Amy Lynn Kuivanen, Business Development Representative at LSCP.

Organizers are currently gathering employers from the U.P. and parts of northern Lower Michigan to participate in the portal.

“A lot of people [who] are from here really want to stay here, and we want to give everyone that opportunity to stick around if that’s what they plan to do,” Kuivanen added.

Match UP is being funded through a grant from the MEDC as part of the Project Empire initiative. Former Empire Mine employees will gain access to the database on January 3rd.

Click here to find more information. Businesses seeking to post jobs in the portal, contact matchupjobs@marquette.org or call (906) 226-6591.