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$2M investment enhances innovative solutions to address regional workforce needs in Michigan
October 15, 2025
New initiative will strengthen the state’s labor force and address regional workforce challenges
LANSING, Mich. — The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) and the Michigan Workforce Development Board announced recipients of $2 million in funding to enable innovative and region-focused solutions in support of a strong labor force, robust economy and skilled talent pipeline for the State of Michigan.
The Regional Innovation Project grants will enable the implementation of the ambitious strategies and data-driven actions laid out in the Michigan Statewide Workforce Plan to help address regional workforce challenges.
The Regional Innovation Projects grants have been awarded to the state’s Michigan Works! Agencies, providing a unique opportunity for the 16 agencies to work together as regional partners to support locally developed initiatives to meet the unique needs of the shared communities they serve.
“We are making sure all Michiganders have pathways to earn a good living and support themselves and their families,” said Susan Corbin, Director of LEO. “Investing in creative solutions that meet the unique needs of businesses and workers in all parts of our state is part of our all-access approach to empowering Michiganders so they can build meaningful careers and helping Michigan businesses grow with access to a skilled workforce.”
This new initiative, informed and launched by LEO in partnership with the Michigan Workforce Development Board’s Innovation and Outcomes Committee, invited joint proposals from Michigan Works! Agencies that support projects that enhance innovative collaboration to solve regional workforce challenges, including improved coordination among the agencies, business leaders and other workforce development stakeholders. Each regional initiative must also advance the goals of the Statewide Workforce Plan, align workforce and economic development activities and identify solutions that can be sustained and replicated in other regions.
“This funding enables the enhanced collaboration our system needs to address workforce challenges with a regional and innovative focus, to the benefit of workers and employers across the state. I’m excited to work with our partners to ensure we maximize the potential of this tremendous opportunity,” said Innovation & Outcomes Committee Chair Dave Meador.
“Workforce challenges don’t recognize borders,” said Jessica Brousseau, Executive Director of the Michigan Workforce Development Board and LEO Chief of Staff. This initiative will boost regional innovation and partnership that go beyond jurisdictional lines to ensure we’re equipping Michigan workers and employers with the skills and talent they need to succeed in every corner of our state.”
The four $500,000 awards will benefit all 16 Michigan Works! Agencies to help them implement regional projects addressing local workforce challenges.
- Advancing Digital Equity and Workforce Readiness in a Technology Led Economy
This project seeks to help regional employers fill skilled tech roles and to connect more individuals to quality jobs. This effort focuses on increasing jobseeker’s digital literacy, connecting jobseekers to pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs, and assisting employers with AI adoption and training. Participating agencies include Michigan Works! Region 7B (the regional project lead agency), Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works!, GST Michigan Works! and Macomb/St. Clair Michigan Works!.
- Career Exposure and Experience
This project will enhance collaboration on joint career exposure events to connect more individuals to quality jobs in manufacturing, healthcare, IT and skilled trades. Participating Michigan Works! Agencies plan to build out a best practice guide for hosting successful career fairs to share with the Michigan Works! Agency network. Participating agencies include West Michigan Works! (lead agency), Capital Area Michigan Works!, Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC) and Oakland County Michigan Works!. - Workforce Training for Construction, Infrastructure, Energy and Mobility
This project seeks to address workforce shortages in the construction, infrastructure, energy and mobility sectors by connecting more jobseekers to the training needed to fill in-demand roles. This campaign will form training cohorts tied to actual job openings and growing sectors through coordination with regional employers. Participating agencies include Michigan Works! West Central (lead agency), Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium, Northwest Michigan Works! and Upper Peninsula Michigan Works!. - Expansion of Healthcare Apprenticeship Models
This project seeks to expand existing healthcare pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs operating in west Michigan to southern Michigan, improving access to skills certificates and addressing healthcare professional shortages in the region. Participating agencies include Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren (lead agency); Michigan Works! Southeast; Michigan Works! Southwest and Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA) Michigan Works!.
"We are thrilled to receive the Regional Innovation Projects Grant, which provides a unique opportunity for Michigan Works! Region 7B and our partner agencies, including Michigan Works! Great Lakes Bay Region, GST Michigan Works! and Michigan Works! Macomb/St. Clair, to collaborate on innovative, region-specific solutions to strengthen Michigan’s workforce,” said Mark L. Berdan, Executive Director, Michigan Works! Region 7B. “This funding allows us to align closely with the Michigan Statewide Workforce Plan, helping more Michiganders gain the skills and credentials they need, expanding access to middle-class opportunities, and connecting businesses with the talent required to thrive. By working together across our regions, we can address workforce challenges with creative, data-driven strategies, ensuring positive outcomes for job seekers, workers and employers."
"These regional grants will allow us to partner with amazing Michigan Works! Agencies across the state to expand innovative career awareness programs,” said Jacob Maas, CEO of West Michigan Works!. “Together, we can strengthen employer partnerships, highlight emerging tools like artificial intelligence, and inspire students to pursue in-demand careers in manufacturing, health care and through apprenticeships.”
“With our four Michigan Works! agencies partnering together on this initiative, we will be able to provide essential base-level credentials to career seekers throughout Northern Michigan in the construction, infrastructure, energy and mobility sectors,” said Shelly Keene, Executive Director for Michigan Works! West Central. “Our united approach will strengthen Northern Michigan’s workforce pipeline by preparing hundreds of individuals for success in these high-growth, high-demand industries. We are proud to collaborate with our neighboring agencies on this initiative to provide seamless comprehensive services to 39 of Michigan’s 83 counties.”
“This initiative represents a bold, unified step toward building a stronger, more inclusive healthcare workforce across multiple regions in the state,” said Jennifer Deamud, Executive Vice President of Workforce at Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren. “By expanding access to high-quality apprenticeship pathways, we’re not only addressing immediate workforce shortages, we’re creating long-term opportunities for individuals who have historically been left out of the system. This work directly supports the state’s vision to help more residents earn industry-recognized credentials and build meaningful careers right in their communities.”
“Our Michigan Works! partners have worked collaboratively to develop innovative solutions that address the needs of those in their communities,” said Krista Johnson, Director of LEO Workforce Development. “This is an investment that supports all 83 counties and helps create pathways to prosperity for Michiganders.”
To learn more about the efforts of the Michigan Works! Agencies, visit Michigan.gov/MichiganWorks.
This program is part of LEO’s All-Access approach to solving complex workforce problems. This approach improves economic outcomes across the state by addressing structural challenges and removing barriers preventing people and businesses from reaching their full potential. To learn more, visit Michigan.gov/AllAccess.
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