The State of Michigan announced Tuesday more than 60,000 Michiganders have applied for the Futures for Frontliners program which gives tuition-free college or a technical certificate to some essential workers.
Related: New program will give more than 600K essential workers in Michigan free college
The program was launched two weeks ago for those workers who do not have a college degree.
“This past spring, these brave men and women put their lives on the line every day to ensure we have essential services and products we need to stay healthy and safe, I am truly thrilled to see that so many are taking advantage of this program – they earned it,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a release. “I encourage every eligible frontline worker to see if this free college scholarship opportunity is right for them.”
“Good paying jobs and a stronger Michigan economy require more of us to have an education beyond high school. The strong interest in Futures for Frontliners shows us that Michiganders are ready to build a brighter, more secure future for themselves and their loved ones,” Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) director Jeff Donofrio said. “With the economic uncertainty that comes with the COVID-19 pandemic and the thousands of high-skilled jobs going unfilled, there’s no better time to add new skills.”
Whitmer has also named Kerry Ebersole as the senior advisor and director of the Sixty by 30 office. The Sixty by 30 goal is to get the percentage of working age adults with a college degree or high-quality skill certificate to 60% by 2030.
“In order to help Michiganders on their path to learn new skills needed to succeed in high-demand, high-wage careers, and help businesses fill critical talent needs, we need to remain laser focused on key programs and partnerships to meet the Sixty by 30 goal,” Ebersole said in a release. “By ensuring 60% of working-age Michiganders will have an industry recognized certificate or college degree by 2030, we’re making sure our state remains economically competitive and helping businesses grow, all while fueling the future workforce and providing opportunity for all.”
The state is also hosting several virtual town hall sessions for the Future for Frontliners program. The details and links to register are below.
- Traverse City/Northern Michigan, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. – Join the virtual event
- Grand Rapids/West Michigan, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. – Join the virtual event
- Saginaw/Flint/Bay, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. – Join the virtual event
- Detroit/Southeast Michigan, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. – Join the virtual event
- Upper Peninsula, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. – Join the virtual event
- Lansing/Central Michigan, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. – Join the virtual event