(The Center Square) – Michigan recently announced it plans to spend nearly $2 million on career training programs benefiting 287 Michiganders.
Awarded by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, “workforce development partners” will receive $1.9 million in grant funding.
“These State Apprenticeship Expansion Grants will help 287 Michiganders get the skills they need so they can earn more money and help businesses continue to grow right here in Michigan,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat.
The money will go to organizations that currently sponsor or partner with sponsors of existing Registered Apprenticeship Programs. Through these programs, participants earn an income with scheduled pay increases, all while receiving education and training.
“Registered Apprenticeships are an opportunity to learn important skills that lead to industry-recognized credentials while getting paid,” said Stephanie Beckhorn, director of the department’s Office of Employment and Training. “They’re pathways into good-paying jobs and bright futures – the kind of futures we want to see in Michigan.”
Over the past few decades, it has become standard practice for the Michigan state government to subsidize ongoing education and training programs for employers and organizations throughout the state, all in an effort to address “complex workforce problems.”
With this specific round of grants, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity will spend about $6,600 per apprentice, with the majority of the grant money will go to MichiganWorks! programs around the state. MichiganWorks! is a statewide workforce organization that receives the majority of its funding from local, state and federal grants.
Grant recipients for this grant include:
• Networks Northwest/ Northwest Michigan Works!: $211,200 for 32 registered apprentices
• Oakland County Michigan Works!: $330,000 for 50 registered apprentices
• Upper Peninsula Michigan Works!: $574,200 for 87 registered apprentices
• West Michigan Works!: $567,600 for 86 registered apprentices
• Workforce Development Institute: $567,600 for 86 registered apprentices
The $6,600 is significantly more per person than the state spent on its Going PRO Talent Fund, which is also managed and funded by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.
Through that program, which gives money to employers to assist in training, 8,170 awards were given from 2014-2025 with the average training cost per person coming in at $1,532.
In fiscal year 2024 alone, the state spent nearly $64 million on Going PRO Talent Fund awards.
Yet, even with increases in state funding to these training programs, concerns continue about a growing lack of skilled Michigan workers. Currently, Michigan is projected to have about 47,000 annual openings in the skilled trades by 2028.
