Michigan residents 25 years and older without a college degree can now apply for funding to cover private training school or program tuition costs, the state labor department announced Wednesday.
The Michigan Skills scholarship is a one-time grant of up to $1,500 to help with tuition coverage. To be eligible, applicants must be at least 25 years old when they apply, have been a Michigan resident for at least one year, have a high school diploma or equivalent, but not a college degree.
The scholarship is part of the Michigan Reconnect Program which offers funding for certificates in five high-demand trade industries like business management, construction, healthcare, information technology and manufacturing.
The initiative, funded initially by a $30 million appropriation in the state budget that had bipartisan backing from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Republican-majority legislature.
“All Michiganders deserve a pathway to a good-paying job, whether they choose to pursue a college degree, technical certificate, or an apprenticeship,” Whitmer said during a virtual news briefing announcing Michigan Reconnect this past February. “Michigan Reconnect will connect thousands of Michiganders to good-paying jobs and connect businesses with the talent they need to thrive in their communities.”
When the program first launched earlier this year, more than 19,000 people applied for community college tuition assistance within the first 24 hours.
While the primary focus of the Michigan Reconnect program is to provide tuition assistance for a local community college, the Skills Scholarship represents an alternative path.
“We understand that sometimes the best place to find the skills training you want may not be at a community college – there may be a private training school or program that offers exactly what you’re looking for or is more convenient,” said Susan Corbin, acting director of Michigan’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, in a Wednesday press release.
The Skills Scholarship program is part of Michigan’s Sixty by 30 initiative, which aims to increase the number of working-age adults with a skill certificate or college degree to 60 percent by 2030.
There is no deadline to apply, but due to limited funds, the scholarship is limited to the first 1,000 applicants who successfully enroll with an eligible training provider.
Applicants must start attending classes in 2021. To learn more or apply for the Michigan Skills scholarship, eligible Michigan residents can visit the Michigan Reconnect website.