Lt. Gov. Gilchrist Announces Over $107 Million in Funding Commitments to Build Michigan’s Infrastructure Workforce

• Funding will create good-paying jobs, grow the middle class and position Michigan to take advantage of billions of dollars of federal funding
• State departments partner to support, lay out a roadmap to train 5,000 new infrastructure workers by 2030 to meet Michigan's critical infrastructure needs

MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. – Today, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II announced funding commitments of up to $107 million from the State of Michigan to support infrastructure workforce development initiatives through the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s (LEO) Building Michigan’s Infrastructure Workforce (BMIW) program.

The BMIW program recently released the Michigan Statewide Infrastructure Workforce Plan – developed by LEO in partnership with their Michigan High-Speed Internet Office (MIHI), the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), Michigan Department for Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), and Michigan Infrastructure Office (MIO) – laying out a roadmap to train 5,000 new infrastructure workers by 2030 to meet Michigan's critical infrastructure needs. The funding commitments mark an important first step in realizing the plan's strategies, creating and enhancing job opportunities and training programs and leveraging collaboration between the public and private sectors. 

“Across Michigan, workers are rolling up their sleeves to fix our roads and bridges, build clean energy projects, and expand access to affordable, fast internet,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “Investing in our workforce is critical, which is why I am excited about our $107 million investment to support the Building Michigan’s Infrastructure Workforce program and build a skilled workforce statewide. Michigan has one of the strongest workforce systems in the nation, and today’s announcement builds on that progress. Let’s keep Standing Tall to help every Michigander get the skills they need for a good-paying job.”

Building on the momentum of the Statewide Infrastructure Workforce Plan, several state departments have committed funding to support workforce development programs for jobs that will help Michigan fix the roads, expand transit, protect clean water, connect more homes and businesses to high-speed internet and build out clean energy to lower costs for families.

“We’re continuing to invest in Michiganders by amplifying efforts to grow and train a skilled workforce,” said LEO Director Susan Corbin. “These efforts are paying off – Michigan is No. 1 in the nation in credential attainment for adults, No. 3 in the nation for helping adults get employed and top 10 in the nation for Registered Apprenticeships. Infrastructure investments will connect Michigan residents to training opportunities for good-paying jobs and make Michigan more prosperous for all.”

This funding advances the goals of Governor Whitmer’s Executive Directive (ED 2024-1), “Building Up Michigan’s Workforce and Infrastructure.” Programs highlighted in today’s announcement include:

• $35.7 million through LEO’s Transmission Siting and Economic Development (TSED) Grant Program to support specialized education and training through electric utility apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, as well as training for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure construction and installation.
• $11.5 million through EGLE’s Solar for All (SFA) and Training for Residential Energy Contractors (TREC) initiatives to support the deployment of solar to households in low-income and disadvantaged communities across the state. SFA will invest in the solar workforce and support access to high-quality, high-wage careers in solar, creating opportunities for low-income individuals to enter the clean energy workforce. TREC will fund training for solar installation, energy storage and energy efficiency upgrades – such as electrical panel updates or roof repairs by creating middle-class career pathways for workers from disadvantaged communities.
• $60 million through MIHI’s Broadband, Equity and Deployment (BEAD) Program to provide funding for non-deployment uses, including broadband infrastructure workforce development, to support the successful deployment of broadband infrastructure.
• Michigan Department of Transportation: Committed workforce programming funding—through new and existing sources— supporting economic growth, mobility and safety through a skilled, diverse workforce targeting investment to meet Michigan's transportation infrastructure needs including roads, bridges, aviation and rail sectors. Training programs are supported by $11 million in existing funds.

“MDOT is committed to recruiting and training the workforce that will design and oversee the building of the infrastructure of the future,” said MDOT Director Bradley C. Wieferich. “This collaboration with our partner departments demonstrates our shared commitment to attracting and retaining the best talent.”

These funding commitments represent a shared recognition of the need for a skilled, diverse infrastructure workforce to support Michigan’s expanding infrastructure needs. The investments are formalized through agreements executed among the state partners that establish a collaborative framework that aligns workforce development with program-specific infrastructure needs.

"Michigan's ambitious infrastructure goals, from safeguarding our water to accelerating clean energy, hinge on a skilled and resilient workforce," said EGLE Director Phil Roos. "As we make once-in-a-generation investments and project tens of thousands of new jobs, investing in our infrastructure workforce isn't just an option—it's a necessity for Michigan's future. The Statewide Infrastructure Workforce Program demonstrates our commitment to building that essential workforce and ensuring our communities thrive."

Michigan is undergoing an unprecedented infrastructure transformation, with more than $16.7 billion in federal funding driving projects in transportation, rail and transit, clean energy, water, broadband and more. This federal funding is estimated to create approximately 11,000 new jobs each year, representing a historic surge in demand for skilled labor. Delivering these projects on time, on budget and safely will require a highly skilled workforce in every region of the state. 

"Historic investments in broadband infrastructure and bringing high-speed internet across Michigan are transforming lives — giving people the technology they need to build skills, access healthcare and fully participate in education,” said MIHI Chief Connectivity Officer Eric Frederick. "To make that vision a reality, we also need a skilled workforce ready to build and maintain the networks that connect us all. Investing in our workforce has a ripple effect – people have good-paying jobs, and employers have the skilled workers they need to thrive in Michigan."

“We are excited to see the state already dedicating substantial funding to this program, supporting our state’s current and future infrastructure workers,” said Steve Claywell, President of the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council.  “Working with LEO and other state partners allows us to effectively align worker training with Michigan’s infrastructure needs.” 

“As our state continues to invest significantly in roads and bridges, the BMIW program plays a critical role in ensuring we build a skilled, diverse workforce ready to deliver on transformative projects,” said Dannis Mitchell, Senior Director of Community Engagement at Barton Malow. “The Michigan Statewide Infrastructure Workforce Plan, coupled with these strategic investments, strengthens our ability to address workforce pipeline challenges while equipping individuals with the technical training needed to expand and maintain Michigan’s transportation systems.”

For more details on the Michigan Statewide Infrastructure Workforce Plan, visit the Build Michigan's Infrastructure Workforce Program site and view the Michigan Statewide Infrastructure Workforce Plan.