Deadline Approaching: Apply for Going PRO Talent Fund Grant to Support Employer-Led Training, Upskilling

The Going PRO Talent Fund is a grant program that awards employers funds that can be used on training and apprenticeships to attract and retain current and newly hired employees. This program received increased funding in the FY 2022 State Budget.

The competitive grant application is now open and will close Thursday, Oct. 28. Awards are expected to be announced mid-December with training starting after Jan. 1, 2022.

The Chamber encourages businesses to take advantage of this opportunity, which provides resources to provide credentialed training to workers. Investing in education, training, and upskilling opportunities for workers benefits not only workers but employers and the region overall. Further, applying a racial equity lens to this work ensures that all workers have access to economic opportunities and career outcomes that will make our regional economy stronger.

Application Process and Supports

Interested employers must work with their local Michigan Works! Agency (MWA). MWAs provide extensive resources and technical assistance around the Going PRO application and project implementation. While employers will apply through the State’s Going PRO portal, they will need to participate in an initial discussion with a Business Service Representative from their local MWA.

Below are highlights of employer supports provided by Detroit at Work, Macomb-St. Clair Michigan Works!, Oakland County Michigan Works!, and SEMCA Michigan Works!.

Note: If your business is located outside of one of these service areas, please contact Christi Taylor at ctaylor@detroitchamber.com to be directed to the appropriate agency.

Detroit at Work (serving the City of Detroit)
Contact: Layna Gardner-Lott, lgardnerlott@detempsol.org, 313-407-2199

Macomb-St. Clair Michigan Works!
Contact: Jennifer Taylor, jrtaylor@macomb-stclairworks.org

Oakland County Michigan Works!
Contact: Denise Van Hee, dvanhee@troy.k12.mi.us

SEMCA Michigan Works! (serving Western Wayne and Monroe Counties)
Contact: Colleen Mallory, colleen.mallory@semca.org

More About Going PRO

(click to expand)