The State of Michigan is dedicated to bolstering its economy by investing in its workforce. Through the State Of Michigan Learning Center grant program, funding is channeled to enhance employer-driven workforce training initiatives. This program, managed by local and nonprofit Economic Development Organizations (EDOs), provides crucial equipment grants to qualified training providers. These grants empower these providers to deliver cutting-edge training programs that directly address the needs of Michigan employers and individuals seeking to enhance their skills.
This initiative builds upon the foundation laid by the Michigan Small Business Relief program, ensuring consistent support for economic development across the state. Fifteen local and nonprofit EDOs, who previously participated in the Small Business Relief program, are entrusted with distributing these funds. These EDOs, or their designated entities, play a vital role in the program’s success, and may allocate up to 5% of the grant amount for administrative purposes. It is important to note that individual grants awarded to eligible recipients under this program must not exceed $90,000.00.
Discover Grant Awardees
For a comprehensive list of the organizations awarded grants under this program, please refer to the following link:
Eligibility Criteria for Training Providers
The selected EDOs are responsible for the entire grant process, from application acceptance and review to approval, awarding, and fund disbursement to qualified training providers. These grants are specifically designed to support training providers that offer workforce training to qualified employers and individuals within Michigan.
To be considered eligible for funding under the State of Michigan Learning Center grant program, training providers must meet one of the following criteria:
- Be a proprietary school duly licensed under the Proprietary Schools Act, 1943 PA 148, MCL 395.101 to 395.103.
- Be a registered United States Department of Labor joint apprenticeship training center.
- Be recognized as a qualified employer* within the State of Michigan.
- Be a vendor providing specialized training for the operation of equipment or systems they supply.
*A qualified employer is defined as an employer with a physical business presence within Michigan, as determined by the department, and fulfilling any additional criteria established by the department.
All funding allocations from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to the EDOs are formalized through legally binding written grant agreements. These agreements outline the terms and conditions in accordance with state law and program guidelines, ensuring accountability and transparency. Recipients are required to submit periodic reports to the MEDC and the Michigan legislature, detailing the impact and progress of the funded training programs.
