Michigan remains a state where employers struggle to locate, train and retain talent. This was a focal point of Governor Whitmer’s first State of the State address on Tuesday, 2/12/19. During her nearly hour-long address to both chambers, the Governor cited numerous goals and programs to assist manufacturers and other skilled trades employers in maintaining a skilled workforce while providing next generation talent with the training and opportunities to locate viable career paths.

Among the Governor’s programs and goals were:

• The Michigan Reconnect Program which will help up-skill and train adults in in-demand industries while connecting them with available employers
• The MI Opportunity Scholarship to assure every graduating high school senior seeking skills-based work can secure two-years free tuition at local Michigan community colleges
• A challenge to have 60 percent of Michigan adults from 16-64 have a post-secondary credential by 2030 (up from the current 44 percent)

“MMA is encouraged to see that talent and workforce development is a critical focus for the Whitmer Administration moving forward,” said Mike Johnston, MMA vice president of government affairs. “Michigan’s economic success continues to be led by a vibrant and innovative manufacturing sector. As current workers reach a retirement age, we must find new ways to attract next-generation workers to the many career options available to them. We look forward to working with Governor Whitmer and the Legislature to achieve these goals in 2019 and beyond.”

The Governor also highlighted the importance of rebuilding and maintaining Michigan’s crumbling infrastructure, an essential part in assuring Michigan manufacturers’ ability to obtain raw materials for production and ship finished goods and natural resources out of state.

For more information on how Governor Whitmer’s inaugural State of the State address aligns with the issues and priorities of manufacturing, contact MMA’s Mike Johnston, at 517-487-8554 or johnston@mimfg.org.

Contact Mike Johnston

Vice President of Government Affairs
Call 517-487-8554
E-mail johnston@mimfg.org