Local businesses awarded $1.7 million by state for training and apprenticeships

The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity awarded $1.77 million in Going PRO Talent Fund grants to Oakland County businesses, recently.

The funds were awarded to 74 Oakland County employers – with the support of Oakland County Michigan Works! – to hire and train 313 new employees, expand the skills of 1,459 existing workers, and to create 12 new registered apprenticeships this year, according to a press release.

The Going PRO Talent Fund was established in 2014, but was suspended in 2020 due to budget concerns. This year, $39 million in grants have been awarded across the state, to benefit 30,000 workers at more than 850 businesses, according to the release.

“Despite the unique challenges facing area companies, we had strong interest in the program across the county and the state,” Jennifer Llewellyn, workforce development manager for Oakland County, said in the press release.

Some of the local companies receiving grants include: Applied Manufacturing Technologies, Barron Industries, Becker Orthopedic Appliances Co., Coventry Industries, Henry Ford Medical Group, Marada Industries, MPI, Orion Measurement Solutions, Parry Precision: Madison Heights, Spalding DeDecker Associates, Superior Materials, Titan Metallurgy, Ultra-Grip International, Welding Technology Corp. and Williams International.

Oakland County Michigan Works! service centers are hosting virtual workshops for job seekers. The centers are also open for one-on-one virtual appointments to help job seekers create resumes and prepare for job interviews. For more information, call 248-858-5520 or visit www.OaklandCountyMIWorks.com.