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Upskill Your Employees With State Grants – Round 2 of Going PRO Talent Fund Opens May 1

Advocacy News – April 27, 2023

If you’re looking to train, develop and retain current or newly-hired employees or build out a certification, skill or career path, Michigan’s Going PRO Talent Fund may be able to help. The next round of grant funding opens May 1 until May 24. The program is one of the state’s most effective workforce resources.

For the last round of applications, the Michigan Chamber, in partnership with the Michigan Works! Association, hosted a free informational session to help unpack the program and make it as easy as possible to understand the key criteria, parameters and timeframes as well as apply successfully. If you missed this webinar, you can catch it on-demand along with a copy of the presentation.   

 Here are a few pieces of critical information for anyone interested in applying:  

  • Almost any Michigan employer is eligible. Most private sector businesses are eligible as long as they have a Michigan presence and are in full compliance with federal and state tax obligations.  
  • Training grants of $2,000 each (or $3,500 for registered apprentices) are available for full-time, permanent employees working at least 32 hours/week. Training can begin after the grant is awarded and must be completed within 12 months. The expectation is that employees are at least 18 years old, legally eligible to work in the United States, retained at completion of training and paid at the current labor market rate or higher for the job title.  
  • Many different kinds of training and training providers are acceptable. Whether it’s a Michigan community college program or classes, or a live instructor on site, a variety of options are available for reimbursement. All training just must lead to a credential, certificate, certification, academic credit or license. Seminars, conferences and self-paced online training are examples of training that are ineligible.  
  • Your local Michigan Works! Agency is your hands-on partner. Contact or meet with your local agency today. Simply scroll and click your region on the map. That’s the first step in the application process. Specialists can help you determine your training needs and if/how Going PRO Talent Fund can help or if there are other funds or programs available, as well as help you establish your specific account and login.  
  • Visit here for application scoring criteria and other specific details and FAQs. There are several industries flagged as priorities this application year: 
  • Agribusiness  
  • Construction 
  • Education  
  • Energy 
  • Healthcare  
  • Hospitality/Outdoor Recreation  
  • IT 
  • Manufacturing 
  •  Mobility 

Visit Michigan.gov/TalentFund for full details and additional resources. Contact MI Chamber’s Leah Robinson at lrobinson@michamber.com for any questions or more information. 

Advocacy News – April 27, 2023

If you’re looking to train, develop and retain current or newly-hired employees or build out a certification, skill or career path, Michigan’s Going PRO Talent Fund may be able to help. The next round of grant funding opens May 1 until May 24. The program is one of the state’s most effective workforce resources.

For the last round of applications, the Michigan Chamber, in partnership with the Michigan Works! Association, hosted a free informational session to help unpack the program and make it as easy as possible to understand the key criteria, parameters and timeframes as well as apply successfully. If you missed this webinar, you can catch it on-demand along with a copy of the presentation.   

 Here are a few pieces of critical information for anyone interested in applying:  

  • Almost any Michigan employer is eligible. Most private sector businesses are eligible as long as they have a Michigan presence and are in full compliance with federal and state tax obligations.  
  • Training grants of $2,000 each (or $3,500 for registered apprentices) are available for full-time, permanent employees working at least 32 hours/week. Training can begin after the grant is awarded and must be completed within 12 months. The expectation is that employees are at least 18 years old, legally eligible to work in the United States, retained at completion of training and paid at the current labor market rate or higher for the job title.  
  • Many different kinds of training and training providers are acceptable. Whether it’s a Michigan community college program or classes, or a live instructor on site, a variety of options are available for reimbursement. All training just must lead to a credential, certificate, certification, academic credit or license. Seminars, conferences and self-paced online training are examples of training that are ineligible.  
  • Your local Michigan Works! Agency is your hands-on partner. Contact or meet with your local agency today. Simply scroll and click your region on the map. That’s the first step in the application process. Specialists can help you determine your training needs and if/how Going PRO Talent Fund can help or if there are other funds or programs available, as well as help you establish your specific account and login.  
  • Visit here for application scoring criteria and other specific details and FAQs. There are several industries flagged as priorities this application year: 
  • Agribusiness  
  • Construction 
  • Education  
  • Energy 
  • Healthcare  
  • Hospitality/Outdoor Recreation  
  • IT 
  • Manufacturing 
  •  Mobility 

Visit Michigan.gov/TalentFund for full details and additional resources. Contact MI Chamber’s Leah Robinson at lrobinson@michamber.com for any questions or more information.