Oakland County has announced that employers can apply for nearly $30 million in new training funds and resources to be used in 2019 through Michigan’s new Going PRO Talent Fund, formerly known as the Skilled Trades Training Fund.
Funding is available for companies across the state who demonstrate a need for talent.
“Over the past five years,197 businesses from a variety of industries across the county have benefitted (from the program),” says Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. “I encourage any company interested in applying for these funds to meet with Oakland County Michigan Works! representatives and get the information they need about the Going PRO Talent Fund.”
Oakland County Michigan Works! will host six information sessions at the county’s Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, building 41 W, to show private and non-profit businesses how to apply for the funds. There is no cost to attend these sessions, but employers are required to register in advance at AdvantageOakland.EVENTBRITE.com. Sessions times and dates are:
Aug. 14, 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Aug. 22, 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Aug. 28, 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Aug. 30, 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 5, 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Sept. 6, 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
As part of the application process, Michigan Works! staff help companies develop training models that adapt to their changing needs. Short-term training leads to credentialed, industry-recognized skills. Employers also must commit to retaining the trainees.
In 2017, 86 Oakland County employers received a total of $2.1 million in training funds. The funds enabled the respective companies to hire and train nearly 1,600 new employees, retrain more than 1,400 existing employees, and launch 46 new apprenticeship programs, county officials say.
In addition to the meetings on the county campus, Oakland County is hosting sessions for interested companies Aug. 29 from 9:00-11:30 a.m. at Oakland Community College in Auburn Hills, and Sept. 6 from 9:00-11:30 a.m. at Automation Alley in Troy.
More information is available at www.michigan.gov/sttf.
