More than 50 business entities across the Tri-County region of Michigan’s Great Southwest will share in $39-million in Going PRO Talent Fund grants to help train more than 30,000 workers at Michigan businesses in the year ahead, to help employers prepare the talent they need to compete and grow while workers themselves gain the skills needed for in-demand career paths.
In this region, 55 companies have been granted $1,983, 171.00 in amounts ranging from $1,985 at the low end for Flamm Pickle & Packing of Eau Claire, to $190,822 at the high end for Pilkington North America, Inc, of Niles for an average of just over $36,000.00 in this region.
Through $39,015,052 in grants from the Going PRO Talent Fund, Michigan is helping workers across the state to secure employment, industry-recognized credentials and strong wages by providing training grants to more than 850 Michigan businesses to support their high-demand, high-skill talent needs.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says, “Now more than ever, we need to invest in our talent and businesses to ensure strong economic recovery and growth,” and adds, “Programs like the Going PRO Talent Fund allow us to put Michiganders on the path to good paying jobs while helping Michigan employers develop the critical talent they need to compete in the global economy.”
Since the program’s launch in 2014, more than 3,000 Michigan businesses have received Talent Fund awards to assist in training, developing and retaining newly hired and current employees. Training must fill a demonstrated talent need experienced by the employer and lead to a credential for a skill that is transferable and recognized by industry.
The Going PRO Talent Fund has supported more than 94,000 workers with training over the years, including new hires and current workers.
Susan Corbin, acting director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) says, “With 545,000 professional trades job openings expected through the year 2026, this fund plays a vital role in helping Michigan employers meet their talent needs by investing in homegrown workers,”
LEO makes Going PRO Talent Fund awards to employers through Michigan Works! Agencies (MWAs). Participating employers play an integral role in defining their key training needs, then work with the local MWAs and other partners to develop appropriate, realistic training plans.
The Going PRO Talent Fund aligns with Governor Whitmer’s Sixty by 30 goal to increase the number of working-age adults with a skill certificate or college degree to 60 percent by the year 2030.
To learn more about the Going PRO Talent Fund, you can visit http://Michigan.gov/TalentFund.
A list of grant recipients for the 2021 fiscal year is available online. These are the companies in our region, assisted by Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren:
- Flamm Pickle & Packing Co. of Eau Claire $1,985.00
- Maynard Hospitality, LLC DBA Forte’ Coffee of St. Joseph $5,500.00
- Albemarle Corporation of South Haven $23,696.00
- Ausco Products, Inc. of Benton Harbor $36,271.00
- Cass County Council on Aging of Cassopolis $17,691.00
- Gast Manufacturing of Benton Harbor $32,335.00
- GLCC Co. of Paw Paw $36,586.00
- Hanson Mold of St. Joseph $45,327.00
- JohnsonRauhoff of St. Joseph $36,130.00
- Kelm Acubar of Benton Harbor $3,000.00
- CHT of Cassopolis $5,201.00
- Coca-Cola North America of Paw Paw $98,919.00
- Compton Inc. of South Haven $18,000.00
- Custom Tool & Die Co. of Stevensville $27,400.00
- Eagle Technologies of Bridgman $59,674.00
- Lovejoy Inc. of South Haven $23,745.00
- Marcellus Metalcasters of Marcellus $5,985.00
- Pro Powder, Inc. of South Haven $16,500.00
- Ralph Moyle Inc. of Mattawan $90,000.00
- Riveer of South Haven $62,765.00
- Vickers Engineering, Inc. of New Troy $33,298.00
- Spencer Manufacturing Inc. of South Haven $17,120.00
- SPI Blow Molding of Coloma $13,770.00
- White Oaks Assisted Living of Lawton $34,500.00
- Tri-Mation Industries of Mattawan $17,545.00
- C&S Machine Products of Niles $149,975.00
- McGuire’s Professional Construction of Benton Harbor $30,730.00
- McGuire’s Maintenance and Preservation of Baroda $11,250.00
- Bangor Plastics, Inc. of Bangor $7,340.00
- Liberty 3D Technologies of St. Joseph $52,300.00
- St. Julian Wine Company of Paw Paw $52,274.00
- Lyons Industries, Inc. of Dowagiac $45,000.00
- Pilkington North America, Inc. of Niles $190,822.00
- Rosta USA Corp of Benton Harbor $12,206.00
- Midwest Energy & Communications of Cassopolis $22,500.00
- Lane Automotive of Watervliet $40,563.00
- Kay Manufacturing Company of St. Joseph $48,989.00
- JAC Custom Pouches of Dowagiac $27,300.00
- Michigan Die Casting of Dowagiac $58,500.00
- Pro Services, Inc. of Portage $98,000.00
- JR Automation – Stevensville Facility of Stevensville $18,031.00
- M&I Machine of Coloma $7,000.00
- Niles Steel Tank Company of Niles $12,000.00
- West Michigan Tool & Die of Benton Harbor $27,590.00
- Harloff Manufacturing Company LLC of Paw Paw $37,500.00
- Biggby of Mattawan $17,760.00
- Hungerford Nichols CPAs + Advisors of St. Joseph $2,864.00
- Halo Super Cars, Inc. of Benton Harbor $6,000.00
- YMCA of Greater Michiana of Niles $29,639.00
- Meadow Woods Nursing and Rehab Center of Bloomingdale $10,500.00
- Blueberry Hill Assisted Living of Lawton $29,400.00
- JVIS USA of Benton Harbor $40,150.00
- Indeck Niles Energy Center of Niles $28,500.00
- Journeyman Distillery of Three Oaks $30,545.00
- Spectrum Health Lakeland of Saint Joseph $45,000.00
Lily Brewer, Executive Director of Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren, says, “Going PRO is helpful to our local employers on a normal year, but these dollars will be even more critical this year to keep our employers competitive and growing,” and adds, “The funding supplements the costs for more than 550 new workers, incumbent workers and apprentices to upgrade their skills in manufacturing, healthcare, and hospitality related trainings, allowing our high demand industries to flourish despite the challenges of 2020.”
Michigan Works! will work with training providers, such as Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (MTTC), Lake Michigan College, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and Southwestern Michigan College to deliver the training resulting from the grants.
Among the 55 companies that submitted a grant application, YMCA of Greater Michiana has been awarded funds to train their team and agreed that the funds couldn’t have come at a better time. Zechariah Hoyt, Executive Director of Youth Programs at YMCA of Greater Michiana says, “We knew last year was going to be unlike any other, but we had no idea how limited it would make us in terms of training for 2021,” adding, “We are excited to partner with Michigan Works! to train and upskill our team so that we meet our customer needs in the coming months.”
In 2019, 45 companies in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties were awarded funds to hire and train 1,907 employees. There were 90 different training providers conducting 392 trainings with that funding. Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren was the third highest awarded region in the state, with $2.1 million funds at that time. The average amount of money awarded to regional employers that year was $46,800.
Michigan Works! has additional resources to help existing companies develop trainings, support growth and hiring needs, and retain employees. Additional grants may become available throughout the year. For more information contact Paul Brohman, Business Account Manager, at 1-800-285-WORKS ext. 1114 or BrohmanP@miworks.org.
