State awards $1.9 million in training funds to West Michigan businesses

HealthManufacturingConstructionEducation

Jul 21

Written By Staff

Caitlin Ruprecht | Photo courtesy of West Michigan Works!

West Michigan Works! announced that 38 businesses across the region have been awarded $1.9 million in Going PRO Talent Fund training dollars for Cycle 2 2026 – which includes 13 pending awards. The state-funded Going PRO Talent Fund provides competitive awards to employers to support the training, development and retention of current and newly hired employees. The awards to West Michigan businesses represent more than 20% of the state’s total funding allocation and more than 21% of all awards issued statewide.

The 25 awarded grants will help train, develop and retain up to 521 workers, including 104 new hires, 198 apprentices and 219 incumbent workers. The awards support training across a range of industries, including manufacturing (13 awards), construction (seven), healthcare (four) and one employer in education. Awards were distributed to employers in Kent County (13), Ottawa County (four), Muskegon County (two), and one employer each in Barry, Ionia and Montcalm counties. Three additional awards were made to employers outside the seven-county West Michigan Works! service area.

13 awards are pending as the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity completes its review and final eligibility determinations. These awards could help train, develop and retain up to 348 workers, including 136 new hires, 73 apprentices and 139 incumbent workers. These pending awards span construction (four awards), healthcare (two), information technology (one), and manufacturing (six). Employers awaiting decisions are located in Allegan County (three), Kent County (six), and Ottawa County (two). Two additional pending awards were made to employers outside of the service area.

West Michigan Works! assisted 187 employers in submitting Going PRO Talent Fund applications after receiving interest from 637 employers across the region, highlighting the continued demand for workforce training resources.

“The Going PRO Talent Fund continues to be one of the most effective workforce development tools available to employers across West Michigan, helping businesses invest in their people while building the skilled talent needed to remain competitive,” said Jacob Maas, chief executive officer of West Michigan Works!. “When employers invest in their employees through high-quality training, everyone benefits. Workers gain new skills and career opportunities, businesses build stronger teams and our region is better positioned for long-term economic growth.”

In fiscal year 2025, the Going PRO Talent Fund was funded at $55 million. Last year, it was cut to $31.8 million, leaving nearly 14,000 workers without crucial employer-identified training.

"This year, the legislature funded Going PRO at $14.5 million after hearing from manufacturers, healthcare providers, construction firms and small businesses across the state that this program is crucial to their economic success," said Ryan Hundt, CEO, Michigan Works! Association. "This is a 74% reduction from 2024, when demand far exceeded what funding could support."

More than 241,600 Michigan workers and nearly 9,000 businesses have benefited from the program to date.

"Going PRO allows employers to train workers in the exact skills they need and those employees see average wage increases of more than 9% within a year of completing training," Hundt said. "At a time when Michigan employers report difficulty filling positions across skill levels, cutting the state's most accountable employer-driven training tool by three-quarters is a choice that will be felt in every region of the state."

Employers across West Michigan are using Going PRO Talent Fund awards to strengthen workforce training, expand employee skills and address talent shortages in high-demand industries. One of the organizations recently benefiting from a Going PRO Talent Fund grant is Grand Rapids-based Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit, independent rehabilitation systems.

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital used the funding to support advanced clinical training in VitalStim/DINES and LSVT LOUD, helping employees develop highly specialized, industry-recognized skills that strengthen clinical expertise and create opportunities for career advancement.

The certifications allow clinicians to take on more complex caseloads while expanding the hospital’s ability to provide specialized services in-house, including advanced dysphagia therapy and evidence-based voice treatment. By increasing the number of certified clinicians across the rehabilitation system, Mary Free Bed is improving efficiency, reducing wait times, expanding patient access to care and supporting better long-term patient outcomes.

“Becoming VitalStim certified has already been incredibly supportive in my day-to-day treatment working with the adult neurological population. I have used it consistently with patients and have seen significant improvements in swallow function and overall patient outcomes,” said Caitlin Hengesbach, speech language pathologist, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. “This training has strengthened both my clinical expertise and the care we are able to provide within our rehabilitation system. I’m grateful for the opportunity to expand my skills through the Going PRO Talent Fund and continue bringing these advanced therapies to patients in our community.”

Training for Cycle 2 awards must lead to a transferrable or industry-recognized credential and take place between July 14, 2026 and July 13, 2027. Cycle 1 of the 2027 Going PRO Talent Fund is expected to open in Fall 2026. Employers interested in applying are encouraged to work with a Business Solutions Representative at West Michigan Works!. More information is available at https://www.westmiworks.org/employers/going-pro-talent-fund/.

West Michigan Newspop Digital Partners