Lenawee County
Workforce Development And Education
Education and workforce development in Lenawee County, Michigan is marked by a strong commitment to building pathways from school into career.
Two
Colleges
Lenawee County has two colleges located in Adrian. Adrian College and Jackson College.
Twelve
School DIstricts
Lenawee County has 12 School DIstricts including: Addison, Adrian, Blissfield, Britton-Deerfield, Clinton, Hudson, LCS, Madison, Morenci, Onsted, Sand Creek and Tecumseh Schools.
Two
Trade Schools
LISD Tech Center located in Adrian and CSI located in Hudson are Vocational Schools that offer various educational and trade programs to students in Lenawee County.
Workforce Development
Lenawee Now helped Align Center for Workforce Development get started through a state grant along with an incubator program.
Lenawee County
Two Colleges
Lenawee County is well served by two higher-education institutions — Adrian College and Jackson College. Each plays a distinctive but complementary role in workforce development and innovation.
Adrian College contributes heavily to innovation and technology in the region. Its “Innovation Adrian” initiative supports real-world, career-driven degree programs in fast-growing fields: for instance, they offer certificates and degrees in applied computing, web development, project management and more, developed in partnership with local employers. Adrian College introduced competency-based certificate programs tailored to the local labor market, making it easier for both high school students and working adults to develop the skills that Lenawee employers actually need. This tight alignment with local industry helps graduates be job-ready and increases employability within the community.
Jackson College has a strong local presence via its Lenawee / LISD TECH campus, which features modern science labs, high-tech classrooms and dedicated computer labs. The college has also joined the Aspen Institute’s Unlocking Opportunity network, reflecting its commitment to aligning its programs with in-demand credentials and good-paying jobs. While Niche reports a relatively modest overall graduation rate for Jackson College, its job placement is strong: about 89% of graduates are employed one year after finishing, rising to 93% after five years. Jackson College also provides customized workforce training in technology and digital electronics — everything from fluid systems and blueprint reading to Six Sigma, digital electronics and programmable controllers — through partnerships with regional employers.
Altogether, the colleges in Lenawee County not only provide traditional liberal-arts education, but also build high-value, career-focused pathways — from associate degrees to certificates — that respond to emerging local needs in technology, education and business. Their strong partnerships with school districts, economic development groups and employers help ensure graduates are ready to contribute meaningfully to Lenawee’s workforce and innovation ecosystem.
Lenawee County
Twelve School Districts
The Lenawee Intermediate School District (LISD) offers robust career preparationservices, helping K-12 students develop Educational Development Plans, explore careers and gain employability support including resume and cover letter coaching.
On the academic side, Lenawee County boasts a high school graduation rate of about 84%, which is slightly above the Michigan average of 82%. Looking at longer-term educational attainment, Census data show that over 91% of county adults (age 25+) have at least a high school diploma, while about 22% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.
A Look Forward
Importantly, the county is continuing to expand its postsecondary and credential opportunities. In 2026–2027, Lenawee County will launch a countywide Early College program, enabling high school students to earn up to 60 college credits, an associate degree or an industry credential through a partnership between LISD, Jackson College and local districts.
Together, these efforts in education and workforce development are contributing to Lenawee County’s long-term economic resilience and helping ensure that young residents are well prepared for meaningful careers.
Lenawee County
Two Tech | Trade Schools
The LISD TECH Center, run by the Lenawee Intermediate School District, offers more than 29 state-approved career-technical education (CTE) programs, free to junior and senior high school students as part of their regular school day. These programs span a broad set of career clusters — from engineering, manufacturing and industrial technology, to health sciences, business technology, natural resources and human services. Many of these courses allow students to earn industry-recognized certifications and college credit, helping them transition smoothly into postsecondary education or into the workforce. For example, the building trades program teaches students foundational construction skills, power tool safety, framing, HVAC systems and more — and students can earn their OSHA 10-hour certification.
LISD also emphasizes “real-world” career readiness: the TECH Center hosts a Reverse Job Fair, where students set up tables to showcase their work and elevator pitches while employers circulate — a powerful, student-centered way to connect learners to local industry and potential apprenticeships. Through partnerships with regional employers and institutions like Michigan Works! Southeast and Lenawee Now, the TECH Center supports apprenticeship training in high-skill tracks like CNC machining, mechatronics, electrical work and HVAC — training that is tailored to the needs of the local labor market.
Southern Michigan Center for Science & Industry (SMCSI) in Hudson serves both high school students and adult learners. SMCSI’s mission is to match education tightly with industry demand: it offers hands-on training and certification in areas like robotics, CNC machining and advanced manufacturing. Because SMCSI partners directly with local manufacturers, its curriculum is shaped by employer needs, ensuring that graduates have relevant, in-demand technical skills. Their model is flexible — combining eLearning with hands-on mentoring — so that adult learners can train anytime, anywhere, at any place.
Together, the LISD TECH Center and SMCSI form a powerful technical education ecosystem in Lenawee County: they provide pathways from high school into high-demand trades, offer real-world work experience, certifications and college credit, and align closely with regional employers’ needs — all of which bolster the county’s talent pipeline and support long-term economic growth.
Lenawee County
Workforce Development
There are several key workforce development organizations in Lenawee County, Michigan:
Michigan Works! Southeast
Serving Lenawee County through a One-Stop Career Center in Adrian, Michigan Works! Southeast helps job seekers access training, career counseling and placement services, and partners with employers on workforce grant programs. Michigan Works! Southeast+2WLEN-FM Radio 103.9+2
Lenawee Now
This public-private economic development organization plays a central role in workforce development, working closely with employers, educators and other stakeholders. They run talent-pipeline initiatives, employer-led collaboratives and support for skills-training projects.
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Align Center for Workforce Development
A newer, dedicated workforce center based at 440 East Church Street, Adrian. The Align Center offers career exploration, customized job training, and connections between job seekers, employers, and educators.
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Child Care Network (Hillsdale / Lenawee / Monroe)
This organization works on workforce issues related to early childhood care, supporting local businesses and their employees through child care planning, scholarship programs, and resources to reduce child care barriers for working parents. Child Care Network
These organizations work in coordinated ways combining services, training and employer engagement to strengthen the local talent pipeline, reduce employment barriers and help meet the workforce needs of Lenawee County’s economy.
Local economic development organizations like Lenawee Now partner with Michigan Works Southeast and Align Center for Workforce Development to deliver workforce training programs, addressing barriers such as training space, transportation and childcare, and helping participants significantly boost their wages.
Contact Lenawee Now!
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