Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren has secured $2.26M in competitive grants from the State of Michigan’s Going PRO Talent Fund to help 40 local employers enhance their workforce. The grants awarded provide funds to local employers for training, developing, and retaining employees.
“The Going PRO Talent Fund continues to be a high demand resource for employers across the state,” said Mark O’Reilly, Director of Business Solutions at Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren. “When we build talent through training, we strengthen the foundation of our workforce and the future of our economy. We’re excited to support employers with upskilling and training 1,097 new workers, incumbent workers, and apprentices without the financial stress that comes with it.”
There are many training programs eligible for funding, 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.
In collaboration with Michigan Works!, employers will work with training providers, such as Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (MTTC), Lake Michigan College, and Southwestern Michigan College to deliver the training resulting from the grants.
Awardees of the recent cycle of Going PRO funds are: Bronson Health Foundation; Edgewater Automation; Bonnell Aluminum, LLC; Accu-Die Mold Inc; Fortress Manufacturing; Alpha Resources LLC; Aludyne Inc; Ausco Products Inc; Beaudoin Electrical Construction; Bronson Health Foundation; BUCHANAN METAL FORMING; Compton Inc; Danch Harner & Associates Inc; Edgewater Automation; Envision Automation; Gast Manufacturing; Griffin Tool; Health Elevated; Hibshman Screw Machine; Hydro Aluminum Metals, USA; InterCare Community Health Network; Midwest Die Corp; MAX 3, LLC; Niles Precision Company; Pero Family Farms; Pilkington NA Inc. NSG Group; Ralph Moyle, Inc; Resistance Welding Machine & Accessory LLC; Shoreline Mold & Engineering llc; Special-Lite; Lindberg/MPH; Wana Mama; Woody’s Electric; Bronson Health Foundation; Refresco Beverages Inc.
Throughout 2024, the team at Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren helped secure a total of $4.6M in competitive grants from the State of Michigan’s Going PRO Talent Fund to help 68 local employers enhance their workforce. There were eight industries supported by the funding.
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 Going PRO, visit Michigan.gov or MiWorks.org/Training-Funds.
