Proposed cuts would eliminate training, apprenticeships, and support services that connect thousands of Southeast Michigan residents to good-paying jobs while helping local employers remain competitive.
SEMCA Michigan Works! has expressed strong concern regarding the state budget proposal for the 2025–26 fiscal year presented by the Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives on August 26, citing deep cuts to workforce development.
In FY25 alone, SEMCA Michigan Works! served 174,749 customers and provided training opportunities to 2,614 individuals across 72 communities in Monroe and Wayne Counties. The House plan would eliminate several critical workforce programs that equip job seekers with skills and credentials while supplying employers with the talent they need to remain competitive.
Programs Slated for Elimination—and their FY25 Impact
Going PRO Talent Fund
- In FY25, the Going PRO Talent Fund supported 129 employers in the SEMCA region with a total of $9.8 million invested in training. As a result, 3,065 employees were projected to receive industry-recognized training aligned with employer demand.
Registered Apprenticeships
- Through Registered Apprenticeships, 357 individuals from the SEMCA region gained hands-on training for high-demand careers, helping employers address persistent talent shortages.
Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG)
- SEMCA’s JMG program served 358 students, with 99% successfully graduating high school. Despite facing significant barriers, 94% transitioned into postsecondary education, employment, or military service.
Barrier Removal Employment Success (BRES)
- Under the BRES program, SEMCA assisted 340 individuals in overcoming challenges such as transportation and childcare—barriers that often prevent entry or advancement in the workforce—connecting them to sustainable employment.
“These core programs connect our residents to good-paying jobs while ensuring employers have the talent they need to thrive,” said Greg Pitoniak, CEO of SEMCA Michigan Works! “Since its inception, 90 percent of Going PRO Talent Fund awards have gone to small, local businesses, and workers trained through the program have seen an average nine percent wage increase. Eliminating these resources would devastate job seekers, local employers, and Michigan’s economy.”
Since its launch in 2013, Michigan’s Going PRO Talent Fund (previously the Skilled Trades Training Fund) has consistently received broad bipartisan support and is recognized nationally as a best-practice workforce development model.
“The Going PRO Talent Fund has been a game-changer for us, enabling the attraction and retention of top Michigan talent. Employees expect opportunities to grow, and this grant allows us to deliver. Without it, we couldn’t compete at the level we do today,” said Caroline Hinson, VP of Human Resources–Americas, SAMES.
Apprenticeships tell a similar success story: Michigan ranks #4 in the nation for active Registered Apprentices, and graduates earn a median salary of $80,000 just one year after completion. Without state investment, leaders warn, this progress will stall.
“Registered Apprenticeship has been a game-changer for STACK Cybersecurity—allowing us to cultivate a highly skilled and diverse talent pipeline, tailor training to real-world industry demands, and offer meaningful career pathways in cybersecurity. By bridging the gap between education and employment, Registered Apprenticeships ensure we grow a workforce that’s both mission-ready and Michigan-grown,” said Tracey Birkenhauer, VP, STACK Cybersecurity.
“These programs are not line items—they are lifelines for workers, businesses, and communities across Michigan,” added Pitoniak. “They would halt Michigan’s momentum in building a competitive, future-ready workforce.”
SEMCA Michigan Works! is calling on lawmakers to restore workforce funding in the final negotiated FY26 budget to protect local communities and sustain Michigan’s economic growth.
How Your Action Makes an Impact
Individuals and business leaders can send a strong, united message to lawmakers: these programs matter and must be preserved. Collective advocacy has been proven to influence legislative decisions, especially when lawmakers see broad support from both the business community and concerned citizens. Raising your voice now can help restore the funding Michigan’s workforce depends on—and keep our state’s economy moving forward. Contact your state legislators today to urge them to protect these critical programs.