News and Success Stories

Michigan Works! Southwest is proud to recognize Julie Gregory as a Shining Star Award recipient for her exceptional performance, professionalism, and positive impact on both her colleagues and the customers we serve. Julie consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to excellence in everything she does. She goes above and beyond in her role, delivering high-quality work…

Michigan Ranks Top 5 Nationally for Workforce—Driven by Talent, Training, and Local Partnerships [LANSING, Mich.—Jan. 13, 2026] A new national ranking reinforces what employers across the state already know: Michigan has all the right components for workforce success. Site Selection Magazine’s newly released Workforce Development rankings place Michigan fourth in the nation—ahead of California, Texas,…

Michigan Works! Southwest is proud to announce April Hamilton as our Shining Star for November 2025! Each month, the Shining Star Award honors a team member who wholeheartedly embodies the values and mission of Michigan Works! Southwest. Selected through peer nominations, this recognition shines a spotlight on individuals who consistently go above and beyond, creating…

On behalf of the Michigan Works! Southwest system, we are pleased to announce that Michigan Works! Southwest Director, Jakki Bungart-Bibb, has been selected to join the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network with the Center for Creative Leadership. This innovative fellowship, soon to be in its fourth cohort, brings together 80 dynamic and diverse leaders…

In December 2023, Cornelius faced a crossroads. At just 17, he was navigating life challenges, academic struggles, and uncertainty about what the future held. School had never been his favorite place, and without clear guidance or direction, he often felt lost. Despite these challenges, he made a courageous decision: he enrolled in WIOA Youth Services…

When Tarra enrolled in WIOA Youth Services at Michigan Works! Southwest on July 22, 2024, she was determined to take charge of her future. At the time, she was attending Comstock Compass High School and expected to graduate in February 2025. After facing challenges in a traditional school setting, Tarra found success in her new…

View the Michigan Works! Southwest 2025 Annual Report below: Michigan Works! Southwest Annual Report 2025

Michigan Works! Southwest announced the recipients of its 2025 Workforce Development Board Awards, recognizing outstanding leadership, partnership, and innovation across the region. The awards were presented Nov. 20 at the organization’s Workforce Development Board Meeting at Battle Creek Unlimited. “This year’s honorees demonstrate exceptional commitment to strengthening talent pipelines, expanding access to quality education and…

Michigan Works! Southwest is proud to announce Imani Lewis-Rodriguez as our Shining Star for October 2025! Each month, the Shining Star Award honors a team member who wholeheartedly embodies the values and mission of Michigan Works! Southwest. Selected through peer nominations, this recognition shines a spotlight on individuals who consistently go above and beyond, creating…

When more than 4,500 middle school students from across southwest Michigan walk into the Kalamazoo County Expo Center this week, they will step into more than just an event, they will embark on an interactive, hands-on journey exploring careers that could shape their futures. MiCareerQuest™ Southwest, sponsored in part by Michigan Works! Southwest, brings together…

Michigan Works! Southwest is expanding healthcare apprenticeship opportunities across southern Michigan, thanks to a new state grant aimed at strengthening the talent pipeline in high-demand fields. The organization is one of 16 recipients of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s (LEO) Regional Innovation Project grant, a $2 million initiative supporting collaborative, regionally driven…

Michigan Works! Southwest is proud to announce Debbie Horn as our Shining Star for September 2025! Each month, the Shining Star Award honors a team member who wholeheartedly embodies the values and mission of Michigan Works! Southwest. Selected through peer nominations, this recognition shines a spotlight on individuals who consistently go above and beyond, creating…