New State Grant Fuels Expansion of Healthcare Apprenticeships in Southern Michigan

October 17, 2025

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 workforce solutions.

Funded in partnership with the Michigan Workforce Development Board’s Innovation and Outcomes Committee, the Regional Innovation Project grants support the implementation of the Michigan Statewide Workforce Plan through data-informed strategies that align workforce and economic development goals across the state.

In total, four $500,000 grants were awarded to Michigan Works! Agencies to implement locally designed, regional projects focused on healthcare apprenticeships, digital equity, career exposure, and infrastructure workforce development.

Michigan Works! Southwest is a partner in a healthcare apprenticeship project, led by Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren, alongside Michigan Works! Southeast and Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA) Michigan Works!.

This healthcare-focused initiative aims to:

  • Expand pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs in southern Michigan.
  • Increase access to industry-recognized credentials, especially in underserved areas.
  • Address critical workforce shortages in the healthcare sector.
  • Create long-term career pathways in high-demand occupations for individuals who have historically faced barriers to employment.

“This investment could not come at a better time for our region,” said Jakki Bungart-Bibb, director of Michigan Works! Southwest. “With several major hospital systems and a growing need for healthcare talent, expanding pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship pathways is essential to sustaining quality care and quality jobs.”

Michigan Works! Southwest, a division of the W. E. Upjohn Institute’s Center for Workforce Innovation and Solutions (CWIS), is part of a statewide network of organizations that contributes to the economic prosperity of our communities by developing a strong, talented workforce. The agency serves employers and jobseekers in Branch, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, and St. Joseph Counties. Additional information is available online at www.michiganworkssouthwest.org.