BENTON HARBOR, Mich. - The Kinexus Group Board of Directors today unanimously approved a resolution supporting the millage renewal being sought by Lake Michigan College on the May ballot.  The College is seeking a 20-year operating renewal, freezing the tax rate for district residents through the year 2043.
 
The resolution read, in part, “Lake Michigan College and Kinexus Group, to better prepare Southwest Michigan for careers of today and tomorrow have developed programs and services that create first-class student and participant experience and draw people of all ages and backgrounds to pursue training, education, and workforce development activities.”
 
“Workforce development, training, and education go hand in hand, and we look forward to continuing a close relationship with Kinexus Group and their family of organizations,” said Lake Michigan College President Dr. Trevor Kubatzke. 
 
“Whether it’s programs like the Michigan Learning and Education Advancement Program (MiLEAP), Going Pro, apprenticeships, or cohosting career fairs, LMC and Kinexus Group stand ready to continue collaborating and building a stronger workforce for our communities,” said President and CEO of Kinexus Group, Todd Gustafson.
 
The millage renewal of .8804 mills provides LMC with 25% of the operating revenue for the College.  “This is a critical ballot measure for the College,” said Kubatzke.  “We are not seeking any tax increase, LMC has always lived within our means, and we are continuing that commitment to taxpayers,” he added.  Voters in Berrien County, and the Covert and South Haven school districts go to the polls on May 2.
 
“Talent remains the number one issue in our region, our state, and our country,” noted Gustafson.  “We recognize that LMC is a proven asset to southwest Michigan. Successful communities must have access to training, retraining, and education that leads to higher incomes and more support for business and industry,” he added.
 
Kinexus Group joins the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber, the Southwest Michigan Association of Realtors, and others in endorsing the LMC Millage Renewal.
 
About Kinexus Group
Kinexus Group is an organization that invests its time and resources into inspiring positive economic change one individual, one business, and one community at a time. For more information, visit www.Kinexus.org, follow us on Twitter @KinexusGroup or “like” us on Facebook @KinexusGroup.
 
About Lake Michigan College
Lake Michigan College is a two-year, accredited, nonprofit community college with a main campus in Benton Harbor and satellite campuses in Niles and South Haven. Established in 1946 as Benton Harbor Junior College, LMC is the region’s leader in higher education, offering associate degrees, certificates, and transfer programs in more than 80 fields of study, including business, health sciences, manufacturing, wine and viticulture, and more.
 
LMC serves as a cultural center, a regional economic partner, and a leader in diversity and innovation. It features the largest performing arts center in the region, intercollegiate athletics, on-campus housing, and a wealth of extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations to create an authentic college experience close to home. For more information, visit lakemichigancollege.edu.