GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist made a stop in Grand Rapids Thursday morning to spotlight a $55 million expansion to the state’s Michigan Reconnect program.
The program gives Michigan adults without degrees a chance to pursue higher learning opportunities at free or reduced tuition.
Watch the news conference here:
This comes after the program accepted 100,000 applicants.
The state says the expansion will be funded by the budget for the 2023 fiscal year.
“The groundbreaking Michigan Reconnect program is fully funded for next year and that is reason enough to celebrate on behalf of the tens of thousands of hardworking people taking the first step toward earning a college degree or certificate,” says Gilchrist. “We’ve added another $6 million in new grants to reduce educational barriers and we’ve hit a milestone this month with more than 100,000 people accepted into the program.”
GRCC President Dr. Juan R. Olivarez says both the Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners programs have proven instrumental in lowering barriers for adult students.
We’re told 1,100 students enrolled through the Michigan Reconnect program for the fall 2022 semester, in addition to 1,004 students through Futures for Frontliners.
“We are proud of our success as a Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners partner as we strive to attract, train and graduate students for the high-paying and high-demand jobs that will drive Michigan’s, and our region’s, economic future,” says Dr. Olivarez.
Visit Michigan’s website for more information.
READ MORE: 100K people accepted into Michigan Reconnect program since launch
