Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) announced 27 recipients of the $14.4 million in Barrier Removal and Employment Success Expansion Grant funding to remove barriers to employment for more Michiganders.
Through the Barrier Removal and Employment Success (BRES) program, the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Workforce Development (LEO-WD) provides additional funding to support the employment and reemployment of at-risk individuals and the removal of barriers to employment for low-income, poor, and working poor citizens of Michigan.
The BRES program supports at-risk individuals to help them secure and retain long-term, meaningful employment. Often this population, especially those currently working but in low wages jobs, are not eligible for other assistance or job support programs. They are often referred to as the Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed (ALICE) population. The ALICE population are households that earn above the Federal Poverty Level, yet still struggling to make ends meet or are one crisis away from poverty. Despite struggling to make ends meet, ALICE households often do not qualify for public assistance.
BRES provides additional supportive services to job seekers currently participating in LEO-WD workforce education or training programs where supportive service funding is limited or unavailable. These funds are intended to address and remove barriers preventing them from taking a job or staying in a job if they are currently employed.
Supporting employment and removing barriers to employment for these populations has a profound impact on their economic well-being.
Eligible Michiganders receive wrap-around services which include:
BRES helps close equity gaps by improving the economic security of at-risk, low-income workers through greater opportunities for stable, long-term employment and better wages. It helps grow the middle class by removing barriers to employment. BRES also creates better jobs and support small businesses by assisting workers who may otherwise not be able to find or hold a job on their own to become employed, stay employed, and be part of Michigan’s labor force.
The list of BRES Award Grantees cover a vast number of communities and regions of the state. Interested participants and stakeholder partners are encouraged to contact the BRES Award Grantees. The list below details the various regions of the state where barrier removal services will be provided under the BRES Expansion Grant. Visit the BRES grantee website via the hyperlink on their name or call the grantees by using the phone numbers provided.
|
Grantee |
Region |
Phone |
|---|---|---|
|
Kent & Ottawa CO |
(616) 796-0685 |
|
|
West MI |
(616) 458-1187 |
|
|
Genesee, Huron, Lapeer, Sanilak, Shiawassee, St. Clair & Tuscola Counties |
(810) 762-0200 |
|
|
Greater Lansing |
(517) 492-5500 |
|
|
Greater Detroit |
(313) 452-2727 |
|
|
Detroit |
(313) 876-0674 |
|
|
Muskegon MI |
(231) 722-7871 |
|
|
Genessee County |
(810) 232-2228 |
|
|
Detroit & Wayne County |
(586) 961-6694 |
|
|
Kent County & West MI |
(616) 742-0200 |
|
|
West MI |
(616) 336-9333 |
|
|
Greater Detroit |
(313) 871-8600 |
|
|
Berrien, Cass, & Van Buren Counties |
(800) 285-9675 |
|
|
Southeast MI |
(734) 369-1707 |
|
|
Northeast MI |
(989) 733-8548 |
|
|
Oakland County |
(248) 858-5520 |
|
|
Ottawa & Allegan Counties |
(616) 393-9453 |
|
|
Great Lakes Bay |
(989) 399-0016 |
|
|
Metro Detroit |
(313) 846-2240 |
|
|
Detroit |
(313) 910-4346 |
|
|
Southeast MI |
(734) 229-3501 |
|
|
Metro Detroit |
(313) 535-9200 |
|
|
Statewide |
(248) 528-0130 |
|
|
Upper Peninsula |
(906) 482-6916 |
|
|
Kent County |
(616) 454-7004 |
|
|
West MI |
(800) 285-9675 |
|
|
Southeast MI |
(313) 551-3994 |
