This article was written by the SBAM Advocacy Team
Cycle 1 of Fiscal Year 2026 Going PRO Talent Fund opened on October 14, 2025, and will close at 5 p.m. EDT on Thursday, October 30.
Background:
The Going PRO Talent Fund provides competitive, performance-based grants directly to employers to fund training for both current and new employees. These grants are a win-win and help employers fill skill gaps within their business while employees earn industry-recognized skills and credentials. Michigan’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity awards funds to employers through Michigan Works! agencies throughout the state.
SBAM has been a longstanding proponent of the Going PRO Talent Fund as the state’s leading upskilling program. Employers continue to report skilled talent shortages, and vital roles remain vacant throughout their business. Going PRO helps these employers find the talent to fill holes from within their existing workforce, while also giving their employees the opportunity to build their ability and capacity.
Going PRO is a proven winner, too. Last year, alone, The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity awarded $42.7 million to 697 businesses across the state. The department says this funding helped train 22,000 of Michigan’s workers. Since the program launched in 2014, over 200,000 workers utilized the program to receive training or a certificate. Going PRO has been funded at $54 million per year in ongoing funding from the state and still is forced to regularly turn down qualified applicants, meaning that the department’s positive results could be scaled with expanded resources.
What Will Change This Year?
Michigan’s recently signed FY 26 budget includes significant cuts to Going PRO. Where last year’s budget included $54.6 million for the program, this year’s budget includes only $22.3 million, marking a 42% total reduction. Across the board, this will mean that each grant pool will be smaller than normal, and qualified applicants will experience higher rates of denial.
Due to the legislature’s delay in finalizing the FY 26 budget, applications to Cycle 1 will begin a few days later than typical. Despite the delay, the Department intends to fast-track the awarding process to ensure funding is available for training programs beginning January 1, 2026.
If you are interested in applying for funding this cycle, do not delay. The application period will begin this week. If you intend to participate in Cycle 1, plan to reach out to your local Michigan Works! office soon. Cycle 1 is always the most competitive application period where the most money is awarded, and 42% budget cuts will exacerbate that further. Interested businesses should be prepared to apply.
The Department has also indicated that they will still do a second cycle of funding next year, and applications will open in Spring 2026. Like Cycle 1, employers can expect more competition for grant funding, even for quality applications.
If you have any questions about the application process, your local Michigan Works! office will be a valuable resource. Please reach out to the SBAM Advocacy Team for legislative questions regarding the program.
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