Going Pro Talent Fund: West Michigan attracts dollars to upskill workers, boost economy
Grand Rapids, MI – The state of Michigan announced that $39M in Going Pro Talent Fund grants has been awarded to train 30,000 workers and more than 850 businesses across Michigan. West Michigan’s Region 4 received record-breaking 12.89M of those funds, attracting a third of available dollars to upskill our workforce in Michigan.
The Going Pro Talent Fund, a longstanding Chamber priority, is an invaluable tool that employers can utilize to train their workforce to meet real-time demand. This competitive grant is awarded to employers that demonstrate the need to address their talent demands and train, develop and retain current and new employees.
West Michigan employers and employees have greatly benefitted from this proven talent program in the past, and the Grand Rapids Chamber is thrilled this program continues to boost our workforce.
“The Going Pro Talent Fund has a proven track record of success, and we truly believe this program will be a vital component of our COVID-19 recovery,” says Alexa Kramer, Director of Government Affairs. “The Grand Rapids Chamber will continue to prioritize and lead on the advocacy of the program and the need for added resources into this fund for businesses of all sizes and types.”
“Like many other manufacturers, we know and understand that investing in our team members is the key to our success,” says Ben Charlick, HR Manager at Michigan Wheel and Grand Rapids Chamber Education & Workforce Development Committee Chair. “The Going Pro Talent Fund will not only positively impact our business, but most importantly, it will positively impact their lives.”
Click here for a full list of Fiscal Year 2021 awardees and to learn more contact Alexa Kramer at alexa@grandrapids.org.