Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and LEO awarded more than $6 million in Fiscal Year 2026 Cycle 2 Going PRO Talent Fund grants to 121 businesses across the state.
Businesses will use the funding to train 2,247 current employees and 550 new hires, including 933 Registered Apprentices, helping employers address talent shortages and equip workers with in-demand skills that lead to industry-recognized credentials.
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On July 23, Gov. Whitmer signed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 bipartisan state budget which lowers costs, grows opportunity for Michiganders, protects access to health care, fixes the damn roads and supports small businesses, making Michigan the best place to live, work and raise a family.
For FY27, LEO’s budget is nearly $1.6 billion, down from just over $1.7 billion last year. This includes funding that will allow LEO to continue our work removing barriers, building a strong workforce and creating more opportunities for all Michiganders.
Key Workforce Development Investments
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$4 million for Registered Apprenticeships to help workers earn while they earn and build critical talent pipelines.
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$14.5 million for Going PRO Talent Fund to help Michigan employers train and retain workers, offering on-the-job experience, apprenticeships, and classroom instruction that lead to industry-recognized credentials.
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$2.3 million to continue the Community and Worker Economic Transition program, assisting workers and businesses affected by industry shifts to connect with retraining, job placement and economic transition resources.
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Data & Coordination
Join our next meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 19 as we continue the round robin discussion to hear participants’ current workforce development efforts. We will also hear an update from Mike Horrigan on recent work at the Upjohn Institute on occupations exposure to AI and implications for workforce development and training.
Structural Barriers
Reliable Rides: Connecting Workers to Jobs is an evergreen resource created to help employers stand up transportation support programs for their workers. Please continue to share this playbook with your networks and don’t forget there is a promotional toolkit to support your efforts at the bottom of the webpage.
Training, Curriculum & Career Readiness
The Wednesday, Aug. 26 workgroup meeting will feature updates on the Skills in Sync initiative, including the pilot kickoff and progress on the playbook. Please join us to share your insights as we work to build stronger, more sustainable partnerships between schools and manufacturers.
In case you missed it: last month, the Community & Worker Economic Transition Office launched the Community Transition Playbook, a practical resource that provides communities with tools and guidance to prepare for economic changes and build strategies to support long-term economic growth.
The Transition Office is hitting the road to share the playbook with partners across the state. Look out for upcoming presentations at the Michigan Works! annual conference in Mount Pleasant, Planning Michigan Conference in Kalamazoo, and the Michigan Municipal League's Annual Convention in Traverse City.
To view the Community Transition Playbook and learn more, visit Michigan.gov/EconomicTransition.
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Please continue to use and share the EV Workforce Portal, a centralized hub of resources designed to support employers and workforce professionals navigating the evolving EV landscape.
Partners from the University of Michigan’s Electric Vehicle Center developed the portal, which includes a training and upskilling directory, a funding and grants database, and workforce resources, as well as a contributor portal for individuals to share resources.
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MI Auto Workforce Hub Data & Coordination Workgroup meeting: August 19, 2026, at 11:15 a.m.
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MI Auto Workforce Hub Training, Curriculum & Career Readiness Workgroup meeting: August 26, 2026, at 11:15 a.m.
The MI Auto Workforce Hub is streamlining recurring monthly and quarterly meetings beginning in September. We look forward to ongoing engagement and collaboration to strengthen Michigan's automotive workforce future.
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