It's no secret Michigan has the highest unemployment in the country. At last check it was up more than 10%. 

There is some hope with one Mid-Michigan college helping to train people for a new career in just six weeks. The program is so successful, Governor Jennifer Granholm highlighted it in her State of the State Address Tuesday night.

A painter by trade, 43-year old John Gnatkowski turned a shoulder injury into an opportunity to start a new career as a chemical processing technician

"I have a couple more classes in the spring and I'll be done."   John is enrolled in the Chemical Processing Technology program at Delta Community College in Frankenlust Township. The school partners with Dow Chemical, Dow Corning and Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation for job placement.

Those companies are expected to have 100 new hires every year for the next five years.

To meet that demand Delta College is getting students trained and ready for work in as little as sixteen weeks. People who are interested in the program only need to have a basic algebra background and the desire to work

Joel Justin, an instructor in the Chemical Processing Technology department says 100% of their students that graduate get a job.

"Everyone that's wanted a job has gotten one."

It's that success that John finds comforting during this devastating recession.

"It gives me a lot of confidence that I'll find a job."

Those interested in pursuing a new career in the chemical industry may qualify for the "No Worker Left Behind" program which covers tuition for two years.

For more information on the Chemical Process Technology program, contact Academic Advising at 989-686-9330.