More than $3 million from the state’s Going PRO Talent Fund has been awarded to Southwest Michigan businesses to train their employees.

Michigan Works helps secure the grants for employers each year and says 43 will benefit in this current round of funding, totaling $3.1 million. Michigan Works Business Solutions Manager Michael Mompremier tells us Going PRO is a great way for businesses to keep their employees up to date on all the latest skills while saving money.

“The grant allows for reimbursement costs up to $2,000 for non-apprenticed individuals, as well as $3,500 for apprenticed individuals,” Mompremier said.

Mompremier says training is expensive and time consuming, which is why Michigan Works always submits as many applications as it can for Going PRO funding.

“Let’s say there’s a manufacturer and they have maybe purchased new equipment and they need to get some of their individuals trained on said equipment. Generally, that training could be relatively expensive. Sometimes the employer, depending on the size of the company, may not have a dedicated training budget.”

Mompremier says Going Pro Talent Fund grants benefit employers in a variety of industries, whether it’s healthcare, manufacturing, or hospitality, and they help keep jobs here in Southwest Michigan.

Awardees of the recent cycle of Going PRO funds are:

A & B Packaging Equipment Inc.; Abonmarche Consultants, Inc.; Bronson South Haven; C&S Machine Products; C5 Electric LLC; CHT USA Inc.; Colson Group – Albion; Colson Group – St. Joseph; Convergix Automation; Creative Foam; Custom Tool and Die Company, Inc.; Dura Mold, Inc.; Final Gravity Brewing Co.; Flamm Pickle & Packing Co.; Flowers Early Learning; Fremont Flask, Inc.; Grotnes; Hanson International; Harloff Manufacturing Company; Kay Manufacturing; Koehler Industries; Lane Automotive; Leco Corporation; Mann Metal Finishing, Inc.; Marcellus Metalcasters, Inc.; McGuire’s Maintenance and Preservation; McGuire’s Professional Construction; Modern Buggy RV LLC; Modineer; Niles Steel Tank; Primetals Technologies USA LLC Benton Harbor, MI Facility; Primoris Renewable Energy; Ripple Effects Autism Learning Center; ROSTA USA Corp; Spartan Tool; Spencer Manufacturing Inc.; The Children’s Center – Niles; The Inn at Harbor Shores; Tigmasters Inc.; Tri Mation Industries Inc.; Vickers Engineering; Wierco, LLC; and Youth Development Company/PAL.