Michigan Economic Development Board Approves $85M Battery Manufacturing Workforce Grant

LANSING, MI — The Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) board approved an $85-million workforce development grant on Saturday, funding the establishment of the Michigan Advanced Energy Workforce Consortium under Governor Gretchen Whitmer's economic development roadmap.

Community College Partnerships and Curriculum

The initiative establishes high-tech training labs across six community colleges, including Lansing Community College, Grand Rapids Community College, and Macomb Community College. The curriculum provides tuition-free certification programs in automated battery cell fabrication, chemical safety handling, robotics maintenance, and quality assurance diagnostics.

The state aims to graduate 6,500 certified technicians over the next three years to meet immediate hiring demands at newly constructed electric vehicle battery and grid-storage manufacturing facilities across the state.

Industrial Competitiveness and Economic Growth

Governor Whitmer emphasized that building a skilled, domestic technical workforce is Michigan's strongest competitive advantage to retain automotive manufacturing jobs as the global automotive sector navigates technological change and shifting supply chain standards.

United Auto Workers (UAW) and manufacturing association leaders endorsed the grant, highlighting that structured apprenticeships create pathways to stable, middle-class union careers for workers transitioning out of traditional assembly roles.

Program Enrollment Schedule

Course registration for the first cohort of workforce trainees will open in October 2026, with laboratory classes commencing in January 2027.