REGION – Like many industries right now, the manufacturing world is struggling to attract, train, and retain talent. And without properly trained talent, Michigan’s manufacturers’ ability to compete and grow will suffer. Fortunately, there’s a solution – the Going PRO Talent Fund. More than $55 million will be available to Michigan employers for Fiscal Year 2023 and the application period opens in November.
The Going PRO Talent Fund awards funds to employers for training, developing and retaining current and newly hired employees. Training funded by the Talent Fund must be short-term and fill a demonstrated talent need experienced by the employer. Training must lead to a credential for a skill that is transferable and recognized by industry. Permanent, full-time Michigan employees who are 18 and older and are legally authorized to work in the US are eligible to participate.
The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity-Workforce Development (LEO-WD) awards funds to employers through Michigan Works! Agencies (MWA). Michigan Works! Business Solutions staff conduct fact-finding sessions with employers to assess their talent and skill gaps, suitable training providers and availability of federal funding sources. If they determine Talent Fund awards are appropriate to help close the skills gap, they grant the employers access to a convenient online application submission process.
Interested employers should engage their local MWA early to allow ample time to complete the fact-finding process to ensure applications are submitted in time for review prior to established annual deadlines. Employers can contact their Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium Business Solutions Professional at www.miworksne.org/employers.
The Talent Fund brings many benefits to Michigan’s employers and employees, including: helps ensure Michigan’s employers have the talent they need to compete and grow, while also ensuring individuals have the skills they need for in-demand jobs, expands and improves employees’ skills and develops their opportunities for growth or promotion within the company and for economic advancement, addresses skills shortages by reskilling and upskilling Michigan workers based on employers’ needs, and supports an increase in credentials, certificates and degrees through employer responsive training that enhances talent attraction, productivity and retention.
From 2014-2022, there has been 5,247 Going PRO Talent Fund awards given. Average award amount was $32,499 and average training cost per person was $1,096.
