$3M Going PRO Talent Fund awards put MediLodge workers on track to career success

LANSING, Mich. — Healthcare workers throughout Michigan are better prepared to provide patients with the care they need thanks to support and training made possible by the Going PRO Talent Fund.

MediLodge, which provides skilled nursing and rehabilitation services at 50 Michigan locations, received 95 Going PRO Talent Fund grants since 2021 to support the training of nearly 1,000 workers, preparing them to provide vital healthcare services to Michiganders throughout the state. Those workers who completed training in fiscal year 2022 received an average wage increase of about 8% six months post-training.

“The Going PRO Talent Fund helps businesses put their employees on paths to better-paying, in-demand jobs so they can keep expanding right here in Michigan,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “MediLodge is a textbook example of how the Going PRO Talent Fund works. With $3 million in Going PRO grants, they have bolstered their workforce, improving our state’s health care system and ensuring Michiganders can access the critical services they need. Let’s keep growing workforce development programs to lower costs and help more people and businesses ‘make it’ in Michigan.”

The Going PRO Talent Fund, administered by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), ensures employers have the talent they need to grow and stay competitive by providing awards to assist in training, developing and retaining current and newly hired employees.

MediLodge is a leading provider of skilled nursing long-term care and short-term rehabilitation services. Having the ability to offer a full continuum of healthcare services requires a large, highly-skilled staff of dedicated workers, and that’s where the Going PRO Talent Fund – which supports training that leads to a transferable, industry-recognized credential – comes in.

“The support we receive through the Going PRO Talent Fund helps us achieve our training and retention goals, so we are better prepared to take care of our elderly population throughout Michigan,” said Heidi Lowe, Talent Acquisition Project Director for MediLodge.

According to Lowe, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training is the first step in a rewarding career pathway for healthcare workers, with many choosing to further their training toward becoming a Registered Nurse and progressing into management positions such as Unit Manager and Director of Nursing.

Sandra Woodall, a MediLodge Certified Nurse Assistant, said the training she received, with support from the Going PRO Talent Fund, helped put her on a path to success.

“Since I completed my training and became a CNA, I’m able to provide more for my family,” said Woodall, who works at MediLodge of Milford. “More importantly, it has opened new doors and gives me opportunities to grow my career in healthcare.”

“We know the Going PRO Talent Fund delivers results, and we’re excited about the success MediLodge has seen through participation in the program,” said LEO Director Susan Corbin. “This innovative program helps us ensure Michiganders have a path to good-paying jobs and businesses have the resources they need to stay competitive in today’s economy.”

Earlier this year, Going PRO Talent Fund initiatives, with support from the Michigan Works! network, enabled MediLodge to form a strategic alliance with the U.S. Department of Labor in creating registered apprenticeships for 110 nurses and CNAs across its 50 MediLodge locations in Michigan.

“We not only implemented a CNA apprenticeship program, but we also created first-of-their-kind apprenticeship programs in the United States to develop the clinical skills of our nurses along their career path to become Unit Managers and Directors of Nursing,” said MediLodge’s Heidi Lowe.

Here is a list of the 30 counties supported by MediLodge’s Going PRO Talent Fund awards.

MediLodge and more than 6,000 other businesses have benefitted from the Going PRO Talent Fund over the past decade, helping them retain their workers by providing support to help upskill their workforce. These trainings have also helped employees gain the industry-recognized credentials they need to thrive in these in-demand careers. Going PRO supports Governor Whitmer’s Sixty by 30 educational attainment goal to help 60% of working-age Michiganders achieve a certificate or postsecondary degree by 2030.

Since the program's launch in 2014, more than 6,000 Michigan businesses have received Going PRO Talent Fund awards to train 175,000 new and existing workers. More than 60% of the employers receiving funds are small businesses (fewer than 100 employees).

According to Ryan Hundt, Chief Executive Officer of the Michigan Works! Association, the Going PRO Talent Fund is more than just a training initiative; it's a bridge to a brighter future for thousands of Michiganders.

“By equipping our workers with industry-recognized credentials, we're ensuring they have the tools they need to build successful careers and secure a prosperous future for themselves and their families," Hundt said.

MediLodge received support from Capital Area Michigan Works! to successfully complete its Talent Fund applications.

"The Going PRO Talent Fund is a critical and important program that provides employers with the opportunity to train both new and existing members of their company,” said Carrie Rosingana, Capital Area Michigan Works! Chief Executive Officer. “The investments in the people that work within these organizations support continued growth in the industries they represent and help ensure Michiganders remain up to date on necessary skills to be competitive in today's workforce."

The application period for the next cycle of Going PRO Talent Fund grants is expected to open in spring 2024. Businesses interested in learning more or applying for funding should contact their local Michigan Works! Service Center by calling 1-800-285-WORKS (9675) or visit MichiganWorks.org.

To learn more about the Going PRO Talent Fund or the application process, visit Michigan.gov/TalentFund.

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