Oakland County Businesses Secure $1.8 Million in State Training Grants to train more than 2,700 Workers

• Funding will support training for nearly 2,300 current and new employees across 34 Oakland County companies.
• Grants will help create 100 new registered apprenticeships and training for existing apprentices.
• Awards strengthen Oakland County's talent pipeline and help businesses of all sizes remain competitive, with the aid of certified Business Solutions Professionals from Oakland County Michigan Works!

Pontiac, Mich. - Thirty-four Oakland County employers, with support provided by certified Business Solutions Professionals from Oakland County Michigan Works!, secured $1.8 million in training grants through the State of Michigan's Going PRO Talent Fund for the FY26 Cycle One award period.

This latest round of Going PRO Talent Fund awards will support the advanced training of 1,776 current employees and 494 new hires in Oakland County. The funding also will enable the creation of 100 new registered apprenticeships, as well as training for 348 existing apprentices.

The Going PRO Talent Fund addresses emerging workforce needs, including classroom instruction, on-the-job training and registered apprenticeships. The program provides critical funding used to help employees gain new skills and their employers more competitive.

Oakland County employers of all sizes take advantage of the funding for training. According to the Michigan Works! Association, 88 percent of the latest Going PRO Talent Fund awards statewide went to employers with fewer than 500 employees and more than half went to businesses with less than 100 on staff.

K-Tec Systems in Ferndale employs 11 people and makes instrumentation that measures temperature, pressure and flow in the automotive, aviation and pharmaceutical industries. The company received a $13,500 Going PRO Talent Fund grant this month for advanced training in welding and soldering techniques, as well as project management certification.

"The Going PRO Talent Fund is an amazing program, especially for small, growing businesses," said CEO and President Cathy Koch. "These training resources make smaller businesses competitive, by enabling us to train our employees and help them grow. A skilled workforce helps us stay innovative, expand business and stay at the forefront of our industry."

Other employers who received Going PRO Talent Fund awards this cycle through Oakland County Michigan Works! include:

• AtomTech - Clarkston
• Barron Industries - Oxford
• Brose Jefferson - Warren
• City Renovation and Trim, Inc. - Auburn Hills
• CSM Mechanical LLC - Milford
• Energy Sciences - Berkley
• FANUC America Corporation - Rochester Hills
• Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital - West Bloomfield
• HIROTEC AMERICA - Auburn Hills
• LEE MACHINERY MOVERS INC - Pontiac
• Magna Seating of America Inc. - Auburn Hills
• MAICOLS COMPUTER SERVICE LLC - Pontiac
• NFE Group, Inc. - Pontiac
• Niterra North America - Wixom
• Oerlikon Balzers Coating USA, Inc. - Lake Orion, Wixom, Alma, East Tawas
• Perry Street Property Group - Pontiac
• Piston Automotive LLC - Auburn Hills
• PROFIL North America - Waterford
• RAM Construction Services - Livonia
• Spec Shade - Plymouth
• State Electric Company - Holly
• Superior Electric Great Lakes Company - Troy
• SW North America Inc. - New Hudson
• Three M Tool & Machine - Walled Lake
• Valiant International - Auburn Hills
• Williams International - Pontiac

Denise Van Hee, the business services coordinator who administers the program in Oakland County, also noted the importance of working with workforce professionals to prepare a successful application.

"Our team helps an employer evaluate its workforce - their pain points, strengths and weaknesses - and then develop a training plan to address their specialized needs. We make sure they understand the state's scoring criteria for awarding funds and then complete a final review of the application before it is submitted."

Since its launch in 2014, the Going PRO Talent Fund has invested $323 million in 9,000 businesses across the state, supporting training for more than 241,600 Michigan workers. For more information on the Going PRO Talent Fund, click on Michigan.gov/TalentFund.

Oakland County Michigan Works! operates centers in Novi, Oak Park, Pontiac, Southfield, Troy, and Waterford, where they assist more than 105,000 job seekers annually. Services include career coaching, interviewing and job search workshops, placement assistance, training courses and job trend information.

The centers also assist more than 3,000 employers seeking help with talent recruitment, apprenticeship programs, job fairs, candidate pre-screening, hiring and training support, layoff support and labor market data.

Staff are available in-person or by virtual appointment to work one-on-one with job seekers to build their resumes, prepare for job interviews and help address other needs. To schedule an appointment, call 248-858-5520 and select the office nearest to you. The centers are hosting several virtual workshops for job seekers. A schedule can be found at OaklandCountyMIWorks.com.