MiLEAP Awards $8.1 Million to Boost Adult Student Enrollment and Regional Workforce Growth Through Reconnect Community Action Grants
Seven Michigan community colleges receive grant funding to expand regional partnerships, enroll and support adult learners, and advance the state’s Sixty by 30 goal
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) announced today it is awarding $8.1 million in Reconnect Community Action Grants to seven community colleges across the state. The grants will fund community-driven strategies to increase adult learner enrollment, provide college and career navigation guidance, enhance wraparound student support, and strengthen regional partnerships between colleges, local governments, and employers.
“These investments reflect our deep commitment to adult learners and the communities that support them,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP. "By working with local colleges and community leaders, we are removing barriers to education and helping more Michiganders earn the credentials they need to thrive in today’s economy – and into the future.”
The Reconnect Community Action Grants are part of Michigan’s broader effort to achieve the Sixty by 30 goal, which aims to ensure that 60% of working-age residents have a postsecondary degree or credential by 2030. Each grantee project was selected for its place-based strategy to serve adult students and foster collaborative, long-term approaches to educational attainment and workforce readiness.
These grants are one of five categories of new competitive grants that became available in 2024 to grow student success at Michigan’s community and Tribal colleges and universities, representing over $45 million in funding. The full suite of grants reflects MiLEAP's commitment to removing barriers, investing in institutional capacity, and advancing postsecondary achievement statewide.
Grantee Highlights:
Grand Rapids Community College will coordinate the Kent County Reconnect Collaborative, focusing on asset mapping, governance, and hiring navigators to guide adult learners through education pathways.
"Grand Rapids Community College is excited to hear the Kent County Reconnect Collaborative has received a Reconnect Community Action Grant," said Ann Isackson, associate provost of Student Affairs at GRCC. "This funding will play a crucial role in helping adult learners overcome barriers to education. By investing in adult education, we're not only empowering individuals and their families, but also building a more skilled and vibrant workforce for our entire community."
Henry Ford College, in partnership with the Detroit Regional Chamber, will expand Detroit Reconnect by hiring additional staff, enhancing outreach and technology access, and building strong alumni and partner networks.
"Detroit Reconnect represents a vital step forward in our collective responsibility to support adult learners across the regions," said A. Reginald Best, vice president of Advancement at Henry Ford College. "By strengthening pathways to education and career readiness, this initiative ensures that more individuals regardless of background have the support and resources necessary to achieve their goals and contribute meaningfully to our communities. We look forward to partnering with the Detroit Regional Chamber on this important effort to advance opportunity and equity throughout the region."
"There has never been a more important time to support students of all ages seeking a credential or college degree," said Greg Handel, vicepPresident of TalentEd. "Funds from the Reconnect Community Action Grant will be instrumental in helping the Detroit Regional Chamber's Detroit Reconnect program continue doing just that. Detroit Reconnect has a history of meeting students where they are to assist them in succeeding through their unique college journeys, and support from this grant will allow the program to expand the resources and opportunities to do so. The Chamber and Detroit Reconnect appreciate Henry Ford College's long-standing partnership, which led to this opportunity to support students across the Detroit Region's colleges and to achieve 2030 attainment goals."
Jackson College will launch a new Workforce Development Collaborative, support College and Career Navigators, and conduct an environmental scan of county needs.
"We’re proud to collaborate on this initiative that strengthens our local workforce and expands opportunity for access to higher education across Jackson County," said Jamie Vandenburgh, dean of Workforce, Technical and Professional Education. "By partnering with our business, education, and nonprofit communities, we’re creating clear pathways to credentials and careers—and we’re excited to support our community partners in helping students succeed every step of the way."
Mott Community College will place College and Career Navigators at six trusted community partner locations to connect residents directly to postsecondary opportunities.
"Michigan’s 60x30 grants are a powerful investment in adult learners at Mott Community College, empowering individuals to gain in-demand skills and driving long-term transformation in our communities," said Autumn L. Scherzer, director of Workforce Development at Mott Community College. "With the support of the 60x30 grants, Mott Community College is equipping adult learners to achieve their educational goals—creating a ripple effect of opportunity, economic growth, and community revitalization."
Northwestern Michigan College, in partnership with Northwest Michigan Works!, will coordinate the "NoMI Attainment Collaborative," uniting over 20 organizations across 10 counties to support adult learners through wraparound services and a step-by-step credentialing path.
"The most exciting aspect of this grant is that it brings to the table over 20 organizations within our 10-county region," said Laura Stevens Matchett, Director of Extended Education and Training. "Collectively, this ‘NoMI Attainment Collaborative’ will raise regional awareness of Michigan's Sixty by 30 attainment goal, and provide a diverse set of critical resources to lower the barriers that students face around achieving educational goals."
Oakland Community College (OCC) will expand Oakland County's Oakland80 Navigator services to strengthen outreach and workforce alignment.
"Oakland Community College will continue its partnership with Oakland County to leverage the Reconnect Community Action grant to enhance community support services and expand career pathways for local residents," said Peter Provenzano, Jr., OCC chancellor.
"Our Oakland80 initiative is successful because of the collaboration we have with institutions that ensure our residents have access to the education and training they need to succeed," said David Coulter, Oakland County executive. "Oakland Community College’s decision to use a Michigan Reconnect grant to support Oakland80 navigators will help us achieve our goal of having 80 percent of our residents earning a college degree or certified training by 2030."
St. Clair County Community College (SC4) will lead the development of a new career-focused system in the St. Clair County region aligned with labor market needs.
"We are very thankful to be selected as a recipient of the MiLEAP Reconnect Community Action Grant," said Kirk Kramer, St. Clair County Community College president. "The college has a strong history of collaboration and we look forward to working with others in our region to prepare students with the education and training needed to thrive in the future."
For more information about the Reconnect Community Action Grants and other Sixty by 30 grants, visit Michigan.gov/Sixtyby30grants.
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Established by Governor Whitmer in 2023, MiLEAP’s mission is to improve outcomes from preschool to postsecondary so anyone can ‘make it in Michigan’ with a solid education and a path to a good-paying job. To learn more about MiLEAP, go to Michigan.gov/MiLEAP.
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