The Young Professionals Initiative is a grant program that is meant to reduce youth unemployment and put young people aged 14 to 24 on the path to self-sufficiency.
The local Michigan Works! Macomb/St. Clair branch has been granted $184,996. Statewide, $4 million were granted to sixteen agencies that assist with employment.
Stephanie Beckhorn, Director of LEO’s Office of Employment and Training said, “This funding allows our Michigan Works! partners to take a localized approach to support young adults, helping us close equity gaps, address talent shortages, and remove barriers to employment.”
Participants in the programs will be provided with career preparation for high-demand industries like construction, healthcare, information technology, and manufacturing.
The program aligns with Michigan’s “Sixty by 30” goal of having at least 60% of working-age adults with a skill certificate or college degree by 2030 and to have long-term sustainable employment.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
