Local Companies Awarded $2.7M in Training Grants to Bridge Gap for New and Existing Employees

December 22, 2021

The Workforce Development Board for Michigan Works! Southwest announces the award of Going PRO Talent Fund grants totaling $2,744,034. The Going PRO Talent Fund creates and expands collaboration between Michigan Works! Agencies, economic development organizations, and educational agencies, by funding demand-driven technical training across a variety of industries. Michigan Works! Southwest assisted companies in assessing their skill gaps and applying for this funding, which will be used to train over 1,804 local residents at 57 companies.

Going PRO Talent Fund grants are awarded by Michigan’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to assist employers in enhancing the talent and productivity of current and newly hired employees, while increasing employment retention and the competitiveness of Michigan’s businesses. This year’s grant award will assist local employers in offering customizable, short-term trainings that meet employer technical skill requirements and address talent gaps. The awards to companies who were assisted by Michigan Works! Southwest are part of $37.5 million in Going PRO Talent Fund grants to employers throughout the state.

“The Going PRO Talent Fund supports employers in the closing of skills gaps through providing support for the training of new hires, as well as for the retention of their workforce by upskilling employees through employer selected, qualified trainings. We are excited about the awards this year and look forward to the opportunities that will be provided to the employees and employers in Southwest Michigan, because of the Going PRO Talent Fund,” said Ashley Iovieno, Business Services Manager for Michigan Works! Southwest. The companies, assisted by Michigan Works! Southwest, that received Going PRO Talent Fund grant awards include:

  • A-1 Refrigeration Sales & Service in Kalamazoo.
  • AAM Three Rivers Manufacturing Facility;
  • Arcadia Home Care and Staffing in Portage;
  • Athletic Mentors, LLC in Richland;
  • BASF Toda America, Inc. in Battle Creek;
  • Bickford of Battle Creek;
  • Bickford of Portage;
  • Bleistahl North America, in Battle Creek;
  • Bronson Methodist Hospital (and affiliates) in Kalamazoo;
  • Concept Molds in Schoolcraft;
  • Consort Display Group in Kalamazoo;
  • DENSO Manufacturing in Battle Creek;
  • Eight Thirty Seven, LLC in Kalamazoo;
  • Envirolite LLC in Coldwater;
  • Family Health Center in Kalamazoo;
  • FlavorSum, LLC in Kalamazoo;
  • Flowserve Corporation in Kalamazoo;
  • Fresh Perspective Home Care in Portage;
  • GMK Services, Inc. in Portage;
  • Humphrey Products Company in Kalamazoo;
  • Kalamazoo Candle Company in Kalamazoo;
  • Kalamazoo X-Ray Sales, Inc.;
  • KEI Electric, Inc. in Kalamazoo;
  • Landscape Forms, Inc., in Kalamazoo;
  • Mall City Mechanical, Inc, in Kalamazoo;
  • MANN + HUMMEL in Portage;
  • Metal Technologies, Inc, in Three Rivers; and
  • Micro-LAM Technologies, Inc. in Portage;
  • Midwest Tool & Cutlery Company in Sturgis;
  • Miller-Davis Company in Kalamazoo;
  • Morgan Olson in Sturgis;
  • Nexthermal in Battle Creek;
  • NorthPointe Woods in Battle Creek;
  • Omega Castings, Inc. in Battle Creek;
  • Parker-Hannifan in Plymouth;
  • Parker-Hannifin in Mason;
  • Parker-Hannifin in Otsego;
  • Pepperco USA in Coldwater;
  • Pest Pros of Michigan, LLC in Portage;
  • Pfizer in Portage;
  • Rosler Metal Finishing USA, LLC in Battle Creek;
  • Senior Care Partners P.A.C.E. in Battle Creek;
  • Sigma Machine,Inc, in Kalamazoo;
  • Singh Automation, LLC in Portage;
  • SnackWerks of Michigan, LLC in Battle Creek;
  • Stewart Sutherland in Vicksburg;
  • Tekna in Kalamazoo;
  • Tenneco in Marshall;
  • Three Rivers Health in Three Rivers;
  • Traeger Pellet Grills, LLC in Kalamazoo;
  • Vibrant Life Senior Living in Durand;
  • Vibrant Life Senior Living in Superior;
  • Vibrant Life Senior Living in Temperance;
  • Vibrant Life Senior Living of Kalamazoo;
  • Weber Specialties Company in Schoolcraft;
  • W-L Molding of Michigan, LLC in Portage;
  • Youth Development Company/PAL in South Haven;

“Going PRO Talent Fund awards provide a tremendous opportunity for employers to meet their talent needs, as well as provide tools and resources that will be critical to post-pandemic recovery,” stated Iovieno.

Companies interested in more information regarding available training options, including the Going PRO Talent Fund, should contact Ashley Iovieno iovieno@upjohn.org at Michigan Works! Southwest.