The Going PRO Talent Fund, formerly known as the Skilled Trades Training Fund provides competitive awards to employers for training which may lead to increased employee productivity and increased competitiveness of Michigan businesses.
Funding levels are determined on a case-by-case basis, but up to $1,500 is available per trainee, and up to $3,000 per employee for newly registered apprenticeships. The average award for 2016 was $38,000.
Any private or nonprofit business with a Michigan presence may apply any time throughout the year.
All applications must be submitted by a Michigan Works! Agency to the Talent Investment Agency (TIA). The 2017 application and instructions were released Sept. 12, 2016, and completed applications will be accepted by the TIA from Michigan Works! Agencies until Oct. 14, 2016.
Award notifications will occur in November 2016. The grant process is competitive and funds are allocated quickly, so a complete and accurate application is critical.
Your local Michigan Works! Agency will help you select the training that best helps your business meet its current and future needs. The supported training includes skilled trades, welding, CNC operators and programmers, robotics, IT training, electronic health records, and on-the-job training for individuals to be hired.
Training programs should lead to a credential for a skill that’s both transferable and capable of resulting in new or continuing full-time permanent employment. As the employer, you must demonstrate a need for training that will allow it to compete, expand, and positively contribute to the state and local economy.
Training providers range from community colleges and proprietary schools to equipment vendors and other approved organizations. Classroom training, distance learning, on-site training, and apprenticeships all may be suitable learning opportunities for Talent Fund participants.
Funding will be utilized to provide short-term training (typically three months or less). No training plan should exceed six months, and training should begin prior to Feb. 10, 2017.
Eligible trainees must be Michigan residents, 18-years of age or older, and must be permanent full-time employees of the employer (training funds may be available for new hires or for retraining of current employees, particularly if the training helps to avoid layoff or job elimination).
For more information and a free on-site consultation, contact the Michigan Works! Association.