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October 21, 2019
Contact: Michelle Manikowski
Manikowskim1@michigan.gov
October 21, 2019
LANSING, Mich. – Nearly $900,000 in Michigan Industry Cluster Approach 2.0 (MICA 2.0) grants have been awarded to help develop and launch employer-led collaboratives in a variety of industries across the state, bringing together employers, educators and workforce partners to help fill identified talent gaps.
“Bringing together employers, education, training institutions and workforce development organizations will help Michigan get focused on creating innovative solutions to our talent needs,” said Workforce Development Director Stephanie Beckhorn. “These partnerships are focused on demand-driven initiatives where there are opportunities to address talent shortages in high-demand industries such as healthcare, information technology, advanced manufacturing, construction and automotive.”
Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Workforce Development recently awarded these funds to seven organizations:
| Grant Awardee | Industry | Grant Amount |
| Ann Arbor SPARK c/o Livingston County Manufacturers Collaborative | Manufacturing | $63,000.00 |
| City of Flint | Manufacturing and Logistics | $170,500.00 |
| Detroit Mobility Group for the Mobility On-Ramp | Mobility | $163,700.00 |
| Gaylord ISD Heavy Equipment Program | Road Construction | $85,000.00 |
| Institute for Excellence in Education | Computer Science | $151,250.00 |
| Lenawee Now | Chemical Manufacturing | $169,000.00 |
| Michigan Works! West Central | Healthcare | $87,450.00 |
| Total Dollar Amount of Grants Awarded | $889,900.00 |
An employer-led collaborative is a group of employers within a single industry or geographic area that have agreed to come together to solve a common or shared workforce challenge. A successful employer-led collaborative will utilize MICA 2.0 funding to support activities that engage employers in addressing critical workforce needs. These activities include, but are not limited to, talent recruitment; creating customized training programs including apprenticeships; providing support services, such as transportation and childcare; financial planning education; and success coaching to enhance retention and career mobility.
There are currently more than 50 formally identified industry cluster groups throughout Michigan. Workforce Development creates statewide policy and provides technical assistance to support employer-led collaborative activities.
Learn more about the Michigan Industry Cluster Approach.
About the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity – Workforce Development
LEO-WD promotes a flexible, innovative, and effective workforce system within the State of Michigan. LEO-WD supports a demand driven workforce system, assists the structurally unemployed with financial independence, advocates for the integration of workforce development into the K-12 school system, and supports the alignment of workforce development with economic development efforts. Please visit our website to see all that we offer.