In late 2004, ThumbWorks! set out to find a way to assist the business community in the Thumb Area. We were already known for assisting with recruitment and hiring needs, but wanted a way to help local business stay current on issues affecting their workforce. With times changing and business opportunities becoming global, we wanted to help the Thumb region become the most trained and ready to compete that they could be! In March of 2005, the Employment Builders Alliance was born.

We initially chose one area to concentrate on... employee training.  We trained only the manufacturing sector through the Techno-industrial Training System (TTS). They were greatly in need of low-cost training for their employees in order to meet the “new world” quality systems requirements, etc. It wasn’t long before businesses in the service sector caught on and wanted to become a part of the exciting new initiative as well. We then started the Service Training Solutions (STS) program and found classes to meet their needs as well.

Once we began receiving requests for classes from TTS and STS members, it became evident that most classes were applicable across all industries. We decided to merge the systems and go back to the Employment Builders Alliance name… representing all business sectors joining forces to better the local economy via a skilled and competitive workforce.

In the past year, we have trained 1,700 workers from 113 member businesses. Word has spread and again our program is expanding! The four county Thumb Area initiative has turned into an eight county project. We have joined forces with the Macomb/St. Clair Michigan Works! system and the Career Alliance system servicing Genesee and Shiawassee counties.