For the long-term unemployed, there's a promising opportunity on the job front.

"The employer effectively provides the training, you're getting trained on the job, and you're getting hired by the business," said Doug Stites, CEO of Capital Area Michigan Works!.

But to qualify, the job seeker has to have been getting unemployment insurance for 19 weeks and have certain skills.

"It could be jobs in information technology or manufacturing," said Stites.

Stites calls it a win-win program. The trouble is finding eligible job seekers.

"We can write special on the job training contracts that help them get trained with private sector employers," he said.

Capital Area Michigan Works has more than $100,000 in federal grant money to spend by the end of June.

"We'd pay part of the wages and the employer would pay part of the wages while they get trained in opportunies. We have a limited time to do this," said Stites.

Christine Aubuchon has been unemployed 16 weeks. In three more weeks, she may be eligible.

"If you have an opportunity for training, getting in with a company, getting to know the people and seeing what's going on," she said, "I would certainly try it myself."

With Michigan's December jobless rate at nine percent, job seekers are open to any help they can get.

"It's just tough to find a job in Michigan to tell you the truth," said another job seeker, Patrick Johnson.

"It's just hard sometimes but you just keep at it," Aubuchon added.

If you want more information, there's an orientation this Thursday, February 2, at 10 a.m., or next Monday at 1:30 p.m. Both will be at the Capital Area Michigan Works! office at 2110 South Cedar Street in Lansing.

Clinton County job seekers can attend one of their weekly Tuesday information meetings at 10 a.m. at the St. Johns Service Cetner, 101 West Cass Street.