Michigan Works! Secures $53,500 in Competitive Grants

Michigan Works! Secures $53,500 in Competitive Grants

Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium has secured $53,500 in competitive training grants from the state of Michigan’s Going PRO Talent Fund to help two local employers enhance their workforce. Awardees of the recent cycle of Going PRO funds are Alcona Citizens for Health in Alpena County (awarded $36,000) and Thunder Bay Community Mental Health Service, Inc. in Montmorency County (awarded $17,500).

Throughout 2025, the team at Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium has helped secure a total of $135,433 in competitive grants from the state of Michigan’s Going PRO Talent Fund to help 7 local employers enhance their workforce. Industries supported include healthcare, construction, and manufacturing.

“We’re proud to help connect Northeast Michigan employers to the resources available through the Going PRO Talent Fund,” states Jessica Topp, CEO of Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium. “It’s incredibly meaningful to see this investment supporting our local businesses—especially small employers—by giving them the opportunity to train and upskill their workforce. This funding strengthens our region’s talent pipeline, helps companies remain competitive, and ultimately supports the growth of our communities.”

This funding is part of $16 million in Fiscal Year 2025 Cycle 2 Going PRO Talent Fund grants awarded by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) to 297 businesses across the state. Businesses will utilize the funding to train 4,691 current employees and 3,227 new hires, including 1,788 Registered Apprentices.

The innovative training grant program continues to benefit Michigan small businesses. Of the 297 award recipients, 86% (258) are small businesses with fewer than 500 employees – and 58% (172) of all businesses receiving funding have fewer than 100 employees. More than half of all successful cycle 2 applicants are receiving their first Talent Fund award in the last six grant cycles.

There are many training programs eligible for funding through GPTF, including classroom training, which prepares individuals with the skill set required to meet the employer’s needs and diversify the skill sets of current employees. In addition, employers can also receive onsite job training reimbursement for wages paid while training a new or existing employee on a new process, new technology or new machines.

Michigan Works! has additional resources to help employers develop trainings, support growth and hiring needs, and retain employees. The next cycle of Going PRO Talent Fund grant applications is slated to be released by the state in the spring. For more information about the Going PRO Talent Fund, its impact and the full list of awardees, visit Michigan.gov/TalentFund.