Search
Close this search box.

Chamber in the News

Find value in these articles?

Join the Michigan Chamber and get them sent directly to you.

State Budget Funds for Workforce Development, Clean Energy and More

Advocacy News – May 5, 2023

The state budget process is in full swing in the Michigan Legislature this month as the Senate and House of Representatives propose their respective versions of spending priorities for the upcoming Fiscal Year that begins Oct. 1, 2023. The Governor delivered her executive budget recommendation in February, and lawmakers in both chambers have spent the last three months digesting those details and crafting their own proposals for various departments and issues.  

The Michigan Chamber is focused on advocating for dollars for talent and workforce development, affordable and attainable childcare, environmental cleanup, and tools to support economic development in Michigan. As each individual department budget is released from their respective subcommittees, there is more and more each day about how House and Senate leadership are structuring their priorities and setting the table for debate. Below are highlights and comparisons of administration, House and Senate policymakers of key items that may be of particular interest to Chamber members. 

WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 

  • Going PRO Talent Fund offers direct reimbursement grants to employers to assist with training, developing, and retaining current and newly hired employees. The Governor included the Going PRO Talent Fund in her budget at current year funding, totaling $55 million, with a one-time $35 million from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The Senate proposed $64.75 million in total, dedicating $10 million of that to a specific automotive re-tooling and re-training program in Oakland County. The Senate did not include the additional $35 million in ARPA. Alternatively, the House funded the program at $55 million, with an additional one-time $25 million in ARPA funding. 
  • Tri-Share is a collaborative childcare program encouraging private-public partnership with employers, employees, and the state to deliver childcare access to working parents. The Governor’s proposal increased program funding by $900,000 and increased facilitator hubs and administrative costs. The House included and additional $1 million of one-time funding, and the Senate increased the program funding by $1.5 million over the current year. 
  • Employer Led Collaboratives were created by the Governor to encourage and allow businesses to come together to create solutions to fill workforce needs in their sector. While the Governor included $20 million for this effort, and the House and Senate removed this program from their proposals. 
  • Michigan Reconnect is a last dollar scholarship that covers in-district community college tuition free for Michiganders 25 and older. The Governor proposed an additional $140 million to support expansion from age 25 to age 21 through 2026. The Senate maintained this program expansion and additional funding, but the House did not include funding for this expansion. 
  • Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) Fund was developed in 2021 to increase economic growth and expansion in Michigan. The Governor proposed a corporate income tax capture to create an ongoing revenue stream of $500 million to the fund that would be readily available for business incentives. The Senate included the same corporate tax capture but moved $25 million to the Michigan Strategic Site Readiness Program (MSSRP). This proposal would allow the $25 million in MSSRP to bypass the legislative oversight process through the Appropriations Committees, which the Chamber opposes. The House did not include any additional funding or corporate tax capture, allowing the process to remain as current law. 

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY 

  • Critical Mineral Recycling is a research hub intended to explore recycling processes for minerals essential to the modern electronic and industrial economy. The Governor proposed creating this program and funding it at $15 million. The House included this program at $14.8 million, while the Senate removed this program. 
  • Orphan Oil and Gas Remediation seals and remediates abandoned oil and gas wells, and adjacent areas, throughout the state. The Governor continued current year funding at $10.4 million, and the House and Senate included the same.  
  • The Governor created the Renewable Ready Communities to provide grants to local communities for the creation of renewable energy facilities on a regional scale and funded this new program at $40 million. The House included this program at the Governor’s recommended $40 million, while the Senate reduced the Governor’s proposal to $18.3 million. 
  • Environmental Justice Contaminated Site Clean-up is a new program proposed by the Governor to investigate, remediate, and redevelop contaminated sites in areas identified as environmental justice priorities for $100 million. The House reduced the Governor’s proposal to $50 million, and the Senate reduced the Governor’s proposal to $25 million. 

  

As always, the Michigan Chamber will push for balanced, fiscally responsible budgets that invest in core priorities and help foster a growing, vibrant economy. As budget items and the process continue to develop, please reach out to Becky Burtka at bburtka@michamber.com with any questions or concerns. 

Advocacy News – May 5, 2023

The state budget process is in full swing in the Michigan Legislature this month as the Senate and House of Representatives propose their respective versions of spending priorities for the upcoming Fiscal Year that begins Oct. 1, 2023. The Governor delivered her executive budget recommendation in February, and lawmakers in both chambers have spent the last three months digesting those details and crafting their own proposals for various departments and issues.  

The Michigan Chamber is focused on advocating for dollars for talent and workforce development, affordable and attainable childcare, environmental cleanup, and tools to support economic development in Michigan. As each individual department budget is released from their respective subcommittees, there is more and more each day about how House and Senate leadership are structuring their priorities and setting the table for debate. Below are highlights and comparisons of administration, House and Senate policymakers of key items that may be of particular interest to Chamber members. 

WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 

  • Going PRO Talent Fund offers direct reimbursement grants to employers to assist with training, developing, and retaining current and newly hired employees. The Governor included the Going PRO Talent Fund in her budget at current year funding, totaling $55 million, with a one-time $35 million from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The Senate proposed $64.75 million in total, dedicating $10 million of that to a specific automotive re-tooling and re-training program in Oakland County. The Senate did not include the additional $35 million in ARPA. Alternatively, the House funded the program at $55 million, with an additional one-time $25 million in ARPA funding. 
  • Tri-Share is a collaborative childcare program encouraging private-public partnership with employers, employees, and the state to deliver childcare access to working parents. The Governor’s proposal increased program funding by $900,000 and increased facilitator hubs and administrative costs. The House included and additional $1 million of one-time funding, and the Senate increased the program funding by $1.5 million over the current year. 
  • Employer Led Collaboratives were created by the Governor to encourage and allow businesses to come together to create solutions to fill workforce needs in their sector. While the Governor included $20 million for this effort, and the House and Senate removed this program from their proposals. 
  • Michigan Reconnect is a last dollar scholarship that covers in-district community college tuition free for Michiganders 25 and older. The Governor proposed an additional $140 million to support expansion from age 25 to age 21 through 2026. The Senate maintained this program expansion and additional funding, but the House did not include funding for this expansion. 
  • Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) Fund was developed in 2021 to increase economic growth and expansion in Michigan. The Governor proposed a corporate income tax capture to create an ongoing revenue stream of $500 million to the fund that would be readily available for business incentives. The Senate included the same corporate tax capture but moved $25 million to the Michigan Strategic Site Readiness Program (MSSRP). This proposal would allow the $25 million in MSSRP to bypass the legislative oversight process through the Appropriations Committees, which the Chamber opposes. The House did not include any additional funding or corporate tax capture, allowing the process to remain as current law. 

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY 

  • Critical Mineral Recycling is a research hub intended to explore recycling processes for minerals essential to the modern electronic and industrial economy. The Governor proposed creating this program and funding it at $15 million. The House included this program at $14.8 million, while the Senate removed this program. 
  • Orphan Oil and Gas Remediation seals and remediates abandoned oil and gas wells, and adjacent areas, throughout the state. The Governor continued current year funding at $10.4 million, and the House and Senate included the same.  
  • The Governor created the Renewable Ready Communities to provide grants to local communities for the creation of renewable energy facilities on a regional scale and funded this new program at $40 million. The House included this program at the Governor’s recommended $40 million, while the Senate reduced the Governor’s proposal to $18.3 million. 
  • Environmental Justice Contaminated Site Clean-up is a new program proposed by the Governor to investigate, remediate, and redevelop contaminated sites in areas identified as environmental justice priorities for $100 million. The House reduced the Governor’s proposal to $50 million, and the Senate reduced the Governor’s proposal to $25 million. 

  

As always, the Michigan Chamber will push for balanced, fiscally responsible budgets that invest in core priorities and help foster a growing, vibrant economy. As budget items and the process continue to develop, please reach out to Becky Burtka at bburtka@michamber.com with any questions or concerns.