Chris Rishko, chief executive officer of Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works!, along with a number of key business partners from our region, went to Lansing this week to speak before the Talent and Economic Development/Michigan Economic Development Corporation committee. The group attended to advocate for the Going Pro Talent Fund and to urge committee members to pass a supplemental budget that will convince the Governor to help close Michigan’s talent gap and restore the Going PRO Talent Fund. Going PRO Talent Fund continues to be Michigan’s most effective tool in ongoing efforts to meet the talent demands for employers. After Governor Whitmer used her line-item veto power to cut the Going PRO Talent Fund from the FY20 budget, key legislators have worked to restore funding through a supplemental budget. Previously, Gretchen Whitmer’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget recommendation included a decrease for the Going PRO Talent Fund, to a total of $27.9 million, down from $29.1 million in Fiscal Year 2019. The House approved budget, passed in June 2019, concurred with the Governor’s recommendation of $27.9 million. The Senate, however, included in their May-passed budget an additional $10 million for a total of $37.9 million. Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! will continue to work on employers’ behalf and urge our legislators to continue to fight for Michigan’s workforce.

Pictured above: Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! CEO Chris Rishko (right) is joined by Gary Bruff, Fullerton Tool (left) and Julie Maleski, Nexteer (center) in Lansing.