Are Sterling Heights Employers Getting a Share? $6M in State Workforce Training Grants Awarded to 121 Michigan Businesses

Of the 121 Michigan businesses awarded Going PRO Talent Fund grants this month, only one is in Sterling Heights — a city whose economy is closely tied to manufacturing and skilled trades.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity announced more than $6 million in Fiscal Year 2026 Cycle 2 Going PRO Talent Fund grants to 121 businesses statewide on July 14, 2026. The funding is expected to support training for 2,247 current employees and 550 new hires, including 933 registered apprentices.

Sterling Heights, with an estimated 2026 population of approximately 134,456, is Michigan's fourth-most populous city. Its industrial base includes major automotive plants such as Stellantis' Sterling Heights Assembly Plant and Ford's Van Dyke Electric Powertrain Center.

The sole Sterling Heights recipient was Serve Electric, which received $56,000 — approximately 0.93% of the total statewide funding. Serve Electric is an industrial electrical contractor licensed to serve 48 states, operating its apprenticeship training through Serve Academy, a nationally accredited educational arm at its Sterling Heights headquarters. Serve Academy offers a two-week paid boot camp for pre-apprentices covering hands-on skills like wiring, pipe bending and safety training, with a minimum starting rate of $13 per hour.

Three other Macomb County businesses also received Cycle 2 grants: Concord Tool And Manufacturing in Mount Clemens ($7,000), Metro Electric in Romeo ($91,000), and Sharp Tooling Solutions in Romeo ($55,213.50). The four Macomb County recipients received a combined $209,213.50, with all four supported by Macomb-St. Clair Michigan Works! in their applications.

The Going PRO Talent Fund is a competitive reimbursement program that awards employers funds to train, develop and retain employees for short-term training leading to an industry-recognized credential. Employers must pay for training upfront and submit documentation for reimbursement only after training is completed and retention requirements are met. Applications are available only through Michigan Works! agencies, not directly from the state. The maximum reimbursement is $2,000 per person for classroom or customized training and $3,500 per person for USDOL Registered Apprenticeships. To be eligible, employers must have a physical presence in Michigan, comply with all federal and state tax obligations, and demonstrate a real talent need. Eligible trainees must be permanent, full-time employees working 32 or more hours per week, be 18 years or older, and be Michigan residents or non-residents paying Michigan state taxes.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer said, "Michigan's greatest strength is our people. The Going PRO Talent Fund helps employers invest in their workers, fill critical jobs and build the talent they need to grow and compete. By supporting skills training and career advancement opportunities, we're helping more Michiganders earn high-quality jobs while strengthening our economy and creating opportunity in communities across the state."

The modest grant haul comes as Sterling Heights pursues major expansions in manufacturing and skilled trades. Tier 1 auto supplier AGS Automotive Systems is expanding in the city with a $20 million capital investment expected to create 120 manufacturing jobs. ARV plans to build a new North American headquarters there with office and manufacturing space for prototyping operations, a project expected to generate at least $3 million in investment and more than 150 engineering and manufacturing jobs. The Michigan Strategic Fund Board approved a $270,678,999 Transformational Brownfield Plan to redevelop the former Lakeside Mall site, aiming to create long-term employment pathways, including construction, light manufacturing and skilled trades roles.

Since its launch in 2014, the Going PRO Talent Fund has awarded over $330 million to support 9,010 businesses, helping 239,389 workers train or advance in high-skill careers. The full list of 121 award recipients is available at Michigan.gov/TalentFund. Questions about the program can be directed to [email protected].