LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Michigan is set to receive millions in federal funding through various programs to update infrastructure. Combined, it’s anticipated over 10,000 jobs will be created, and state offices are making a plan to prepare workers.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has declared an executive directive to train Michigan’s next generation of infrastructure workers. The planning process is underway for the state’s Office of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO).
Governor Whitmer has declared a ‘Building Up Michigan’s Workforce and Infrastructure’ directive, calling for the Office of Labor and Economic Opportunity to create a plan that will establish a statewide strategy to meet infrastructure workforce development goals by May 2025.
Director of the Office of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Susan Corbin, explained that a statewide workforce plan was rolled out in March. The plan aims to help more Michiganders access the necessary training and certifications for jobs that will lift more families into the middle class. Corbin says a big part of both the workforce plan and directive is removing barriers to education. She said a key part of removing barriers, especially in the Upper Peninsula, will be the partnership with local Michigan Works to make sure the right resources will be given.
“We know that it could be challenging to meet those workforce needs, to fill those jobs,” Corbin said. “This executive directive plays very well in the work that we have ahead of us in our state workforce planning.”
Corbin explained that portions of the funds from federal programs are dedicated to workforce advancement. The directive allows LEO to work in a highly coordinated way with the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Department for Environment Great Lankes and Energy, the High-Speed Internet Office, and the Infrastructure Office to maximize funding and resources.
“This executive directive requires us to work very closely and cohesively so that we’re not squandering any resources and we’re working on delivering these services and these dollars in a highly coordinated way,” Corbin said. “We want to make sure that employers in michigan have the talent that they need for the jobs today and the jobs that we know will be here in the future.”
Corbin said LEO will be partnering with other state offices to create the plan and gather data that will help train 5,000 infrastructure workers by January 1, 2030.
