Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the recipients of grants totaling $4 million to provide young adults with a meaningful introduction to the world of work, including jobs skills, on-site, hybrid, and virtual career exploration and preparation activities, and earned income. The Young Professionals program aligns with Michigan's Sixty by 30 goal to increase the number of working-age adults with a skill certificate or college degree to 60 percent by 2030. 

“This investment expands career and educational opportunities for young adults and helps us build a state where everyone, no matter who they are or where they live, has a shot at a bright future,” said Governor Whitmer. “As a mom, I know that every parent wants their kids to have opportunities to pursue their potential and go on to live a great life. Today’s investment prepares young Michiganders to fill in-demand, good-paying jobs, and empowers them to support themselves and their families. It will help fill job openings especially as older Michiganders leave the workforce and build on Michigan’s ongoing economic momentum.” 

The Young Professionals initiative is designed to reduce youth unemployment and place young adults, ages 14-24, on the right path to achieve lifelong economic self-sufficiency. The initiative supports young adults who are struggling to obtain employment by exposing them to multiple career and educational opportunities, such as entering a Registered Apprenticeship program, earning a college degree or certificate, and obtaining sustainable employment. 

“The Young Professionals initiative is designed to reduce youth unemployment and place young adults on the right path to achieve lifelong economic self-sufficiency,” said Stephanie Beckhorn, Director of LEO’s Office of Employment and Training. “This funding allows our Michigan Works! partners to take a localized approach to support young adults, helping us close equity gaps, address talent shortages, and remove barriers to employment.” 

Young Professionals grants have been awarded to the state’s Michigan Works! network, which were selected through a Request for Proposals process. The 16 agencies will receive awards to support the development and/or enhancement of a Young Professionals employment initiative. Awards were allocated to: 

Michigan Works! Agency - Allocation:

Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren - $247,973 

Capital Area Michigan Works! - $300,000 

Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation - $353,220 

GST Michigan Works! - $257,924 

Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! - $300,000 

Michigan Works! Macomb/St. Clair - $184,996 

Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium - $64,350       

Northwest Michigan Works! - $281,494 

Oakland County Michigan Works! - $293,645 

Michigan Works! Region 7B - $110,686 

Michigan Works! Southeast - $220,138 

Southeast Michigan Community Alliance - $228,130 

Michigan Works! Southwest - $450,000 

Upper Peninsula Michigan Works! - $300,000 

Michigan Works! West Central - $100,000 

West Michigan Works! - $307,444 

Michigan Works! provides career preparation, employment opportunities and supportive services throughout the state. These agencies play a crucial role in the recruitment of employers, with a focus on regionally in-demand industries such as construction, healthcare, information technology, and manufacturing. 

“Michigan Works! strives to equip youth with essential skills, connecting them to employment and building a talent pipeline,” said Michigan Works! Southwest Director Jakki Bungart-Bibb. “Providing opportunities, such as the Young Professionals Initiative, creates an investment in the future for our local communities and helps open doors for youth to become powerful advocates for sustainable change.” 

The Sixty by 30 goal seeks to build a better Michigan in three ways: 

·         Close the skills gap that poses the single greatest threat to the success of our businesses and our state’s prosperity. Jobs requiring skilled employees today, as well as jobs on the horizon, demand greater education and training than ever before. Increasingly, the best jobs require more than a high school diploma. 

·         Increase opportunity and Michiganders greater access to the education and skills that create opportunities for better jobs and bigger paychecks. 

·         Make Michigan more competitive for inclusive economic growth. 

More information about the program is available through the Michigan Works! network. To contact the nearest Michigan Works! Service Center, call 800-285-WORKS (9675) or visit MichiganWorks.org.