Advocacy News – March 24, 2025
What’s new: Applications for Michigan’s Going PRO Talent Fund, a competitive state grant program that assists businesses with upskilling and training their current and newly hired workforce, are now being accepted.
Why it matters: The MI Chamber-supported program has been a key tool in readying Michigan’s workforce for the demands of tomorrow. This will be the first round of applications collected for the fiscal year, and the second round will open later in April 2025.
Key Dates:
- Applications for the Employer-Led Collaboratives opened Monday, March 24, 2025, and will remain open until funding has been exhausted.
- Applications for Cycle 2 of Fiscal Year 2025 Going PRO Talent Fund open Monday, April 14, 2025, and will close at 5 p.m. Friday, May 2, 2025.
How it works: The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) will reimburse employers – through awards facilitated by Michigan Works! Associations across the state – between $2,000 and $3,500 per individual (depending on employment type) to assist employers in training, developing and retaining current and newly hired employees.
- Training funded by the Talent Fund must fill a demonstrated talent need experienced by the employer and lead to a credential for a skill that is transferable and recognized by industry.
Go deeper: For questions about the Going PRO Talent Fund, contact Randy Gross.