(The Center Square) – Michigan plans to spend more than $100 million in taxpayer funds to train new workers to build roads, bridges, increase access to high-speed internet and energy options.
The money, cobbled together from four separate state agencies, is part of the Department of Labor’s Building Michigan’s Infrastructure Workforce program. The goal is to train 5,000 new infrastructure workers by 2030 and works with both the public and private sectors.
“Across Michigan, workers are rolling up their sleeves to fix our roads and bridges, build clean energy projects, and expand access to affordable, fast internet,” Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II said in a statement Wednesday. “Investing in our workforce is critical, which is why I am excited about our $107 million investment to support the Building Michigan’s Infrastructure Workforce program and build a skilled workforce statewide. Michigan has one of the strongest workforce systems in the nation, and today’s announcement builds on that progress.”
The funding is expected to come from:
• $35.7 million through LEO’s Transmission Siting and Economic Development Grant Program for specialized education and training through electric utility apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, as well as training for electric vehicle infrastructure.
• $11.5 million through EGLE’s Solar for All and Training for Residential Energy Contractors initiatives for the deployment of solar to households in low-income and disadvantaged communities across the state.
• $60 million through MIHI’s Broadband, Equity and Deployment Program for non-deployment uses, including broadband infrastructure workforce development, to support the successful deployment of broadband infrastructure.
• Michigan Department of Transportation committed workforce programming funding for economic growth, mobility and safety through a skilled, diverse workforce targeting investment to meet transportation infrastructure needs including roads, bridges, aviation and rail sectors.
“As we make once-in-a-generation investments and project tens of thousands of new jobs, investing in our infrastructure workforce isn’t just an option – it’s a necessity for Michigan’s future,” EGLE Director Phil Roos said.
