Free Money Alert: $16M in State Grants Up for Grabs for Michigan Manufacturers

Going PRO Talent Fund: $16 Million to Power Michigan’s Manufacturing Comeback

Remember when “training” meant a two-minute safety video and someone’s cousin giving you a crash course on the forklift? Those days are as extinct as flip phones—thanks to Michigan’s Going PRO Talent Fund. In Fiscal Year 2025 Cycle 2, Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) just dropped $16 million into the pockets of 297 businesses statewide to level up nearly 8,000 employees through real, industry-recognized training programs.

Why Manufacturing Leaders Should Care

If you’re running a large-scale manufacturing operation, you know your biggest asset isn’t your shiny robots or CNC machines—it’s your people. And right now, there’s never been a better time to tap into state grants that make training almost free. Here’s the skinny:

Scale and Diversity: Of those 297 businesses, 86% are small-to-mid-sized, proving that both Main Street fabricators and big OEM suppliers can play. And training spans a range of sectors—advanced manufacturing, food production, clean energy, even healthcare equipment.

Immediate ROI: Businesses will upskill 4,691 current employees and onboard 3,227 new hires (including 1,788 apprentices!). Workers typically pocket a 7.2% bump in their hourly wage post-training—so happier, more skilled staff and a healthier bottom line, anyone?

Apprenticeship Power: Michigan ranks 4th nationally for active registered apprenticeships, with over 22,000 participants across 850 programs. That’s a ready pipeline of talent who know your tools, processes, and—critically—your culture.

More Than Just Free Money
What separates a flash-in-the-pan grant from a real workforce strategy? Customization and sustainability. Going PRO grants are designed in partnership with local Michigan Works! agencies, so training isn’t a one-size-fits-all slide deck. It’s tailored classroom instruction, on-the-job coaching, or credentials that matter in your shop.

“We connect employers to funding that ensures Detroiters can walk the path to success,” says Dana Williams of Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation. The payoff? Reduced turnover, higher productivity, and a reputation as an employer that invests in people—critical when every plant manager is competing for the same handful of welders and machinists.

Big Picture: Building Michigan’s Middle Class
Since 2014, Going PRO has trained 225,000 workers and supported 7,400 businesses. But these aren’t just stats—they’re real people getting promoted from grunt work to skilled technician, from unsteady temps to registered apprentices with credentials that travel across industries. Governor Whitmer’s FY 2026 budget even recommends $54.8 million more, signaling that Lansing sees talent pipelines as essential infrastructure. The Michigan Going PRO Talent Fund opened up submissions in March and will remain open until funds are exhausted. Click here to learn more and apply for your business!

Workers clustered around a CNC machine as an instructor demonstrates controls on a tablet.

Action Steps for Manufacturing Execs

Audit Your Skills Gaps
Partner with your local Michigan Works! Service Center. Identify your biggest choke points—robotics programming? PLC troubleshooting? CNC maintenance?

Map Out Training Paths
Choose programs that align with your growth plans: short-term certificates for quick wins, apprenticeships for deeper skill sets.

Leverage the Grant
Apply for Cycle 3 (watch Michigan.gov/TalentFund for deadlines) and secure up to 75% of training costs covered.

Showcase Success
Promote your investment in people—both internally and externally. It’s a recruiting magnet and a PR win.

At the end of the day, free money is great—unless it just sits in an email inbox. By proactively designing training that matches your production needs, you’ll turn that $16 million into a ramped-up workforce, lower turnover, and a stronger Michigan manufacturing ecosystem.

You’re Doing Great! New Report Says Worker Confidence Is Soaring.

three workers in factory gear give a thumbs up in approval

As 2023 wrapped up, American workers started feeling a lot more hopeful about their jobs, marking a big change after a tough year. The latest U.S. Worker Confidence Index (WCI) for the last quarter shows that workers are feeling better than ever, giving us all a reason to be optimistic as we step into Q2 of 2024. Today, we look into why workers are feeling more confident and what it might mean for jobs and the economy moving forward.

The start of 2023 was shaky for many workers across the U.S., with worries about the economy, job security, and other global issues. But by the end of the year, things took a positive turn, and the WCI hit an all-time high. This isn’t just a random good news story—it shows that the economy is getting stronger and the job market is bouncing back.

The WCI measures how workers feel in four key areas: job security, chances of getting a raise, chances of getting promoted, and how much they trust their company’s leaders. The score shot up to 114.9 points, which is really impressive, especially after it was dropping for most of 2023. Workers are now more optimistic about moving up in their careers and believing in their company’s leadership than they’ve been in a while.

Even with the overall positive vibe, not everyone is feeling secure about their jobs. The Job Security Index dipped a little, showing that while some people are feeling more secure, others, especially men and workers in their prime years, are not as confident. This mix of feelings shows that there’s still some work to do to make everyone feel stable in their jobs.

A big highlight from the last quarter is that workers are really optimistic about getting promoted and getting raises. The scores for these areas jumped up a lot, turning around the downward trend from before. This means that more people believe they’ll move up in their careers and get recognized with better pay.

Trust in company leaders also went up, which is great news. When workers believe in their leaders, it makes for a better work environment, especially during uncertain times. Nearly half of the workers now feel good about their company’s leadership, which is a big step forward.

three men in a factory wearing factory gear all stand shoulder to shoulder in approval of their jobs. They seem happy.

The Bigger Economic Picture

The rise in worker confidence comes at a time when the U.S. job market is doing well, and the economy is picking up. The last quarter saw a lot of new jobs, especially in healthcare, hospitality, and government. Despite challenges like higher interest rates and inflation, the strong job market and growing consumer confidence show that the economy is on the right path.

Looking ahead to 2024, there’s a cautious but real sense of optimism. The economy and job market are expected to keep getting stronger, though the pace might slow down a bit. It’s important for companies to keep listening to their workers, especially when it comes to job security and career growth.

Why Worker Confidence Matters

The insights from the WCI are not just numbers; they show us how American workers are feeling overall. High confidence can lead to better work, more creativity, and stronger loyalty to companies. On the flip side, when workers aren’t feeling great, it can hurt productivity and morale. That’s why it’s crucial for companies to keep an eye on how their employees are feeling.

The last quarter of 2023 showed us that despite challenges, American workers are feeling hopeful and confident about the future. This is great news for everyone. For businesses, it’s a reminder of how important it is to create a positive work environment where employees feel valued and supported. Moving into 2024, we’ll all benefit from keeping the momentum going and making sure workers continue to feel confident and satisfied with their jobs.