Michigan AI Training Grants: How to Get Up to $3,500 Per Employee

Michigan businesses have access to some of the most generous workforce training grants in the country, and most of them are leaving that money on the table. The Going PRO Talent Fund alone provides up to $3,500 per employee for skills training -- including AI and analytics training -- and the application process is more straightforward than most business owners assume.

We help Michigan companies navigate these grant programs and pair them with practical training programs that actually move the needle on workforce capability. Here is everything you need to know to take advantage of these funding opportunities.

The Going PRO Talent Fund: Michigan's Best-Kept Training Secret

The Going PRO Talent Fund (formerly known as the Skilled Trades Training Fund) is administered by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). It is the single largest source of employer-sponsored training grants in the state.

How It Works

The state allocates funds annually (typically $30-55 million) to reimburse Michigan employers for training costs. You do not receive the money upfront. You apply, get approved, deliver the training, and then get reimbursed for eligible expenses.

Key numbers for the current funding cycle:

• Up to $3,500 per employee for classroom training
• Up to $1,500 per employee for on-the-job training
• No cap on the number of employees per application (though awards are competitive)
• Training must be completed within the grant period (typically 12 months from award)

What Training Qualifies

This is where it gets interesting for AI and analytics. The Going PRO fund covers training that leads to a credential, certificate, or demonstrable skill improvement that benefits the employer. Eligible training includes:

• AI literacy and tool adoption -- Teaching employees to use AI tools effectively and responsibly in their daily work
• Data analytics and visualization -- Power BI, Tableau, Python for data analysis, dashboard creation
• Business intelligence -- Turning raw data into actionable insights, KPI development, reporting automation
• Digital skills -- Advanced Excel, database management, process automation
• Leadership and management -- Including data-driven decision making for managers

The training must be delivered by an eligible training provider. This includes community colleges, universities, private training companies, and industry-certified trainers.

Eligibility Requirements

Employer eligibility:

• Must be a Michigan-based business (headquartered or with operations in Michigan)
• Must be a for-profit company, nonprofit organization, or local unit of government
• Must have been operating for at least one year
• Must be current on all state and local taxes
• Must not have any outstanding Going PRO compliance issues from previous awards

Employee eligibility:

• Must be full-time employees (minimum 30 hours per week in most cases)
• Must be employed at a Michigan location
• Must be paid at least the prevailing wage for their occupation in their region
• New hires being trained as part of onboarding may qualify in certain circumstances

What does NOT qualify:

• Training for independent contractors or 1099 workers
• College degree programs (though credit-bearing certificates may qualify)
• Conferences or seminars without a structured curriculum
• Training that the employer would have provided regardless of the grant

The Application Process Step by Step

Step 1: Identify your training needs (4-6 weeks before the application window)

Before you touch the application, get clear on what training you need, who needs it, and what outcomes you expect. The strongest applications connect training directly to business outcomes -- increased productivity, reduced errors, new service capabilities, improved retention.

Step 2: Find an eligible training provider

Work with your local Michigan Works! agency to identify approved training providers, or bring a provider you already work with. The provider will need to supply curriculum details, trainer qualifications, and cost documentation.

Step 3: Prepare your application

Applications are submitted through the Going PRO online portal. You will need:

• Company information (EIN, NAICS code, number of employees)
• Detailed training plan (curriculum, schedule, outcomes)
• Employee roster (names, job titles, wages)
• Training provider information and cost breakdown
• A brief narrative explaining why this training matters to your business

Step 4: Submit during the application window

The Going PRO Talent Fund has specific application windows, typically opening in late winter or early spring. Applications are reviewed competitively. Historically, about 60-70% of applications receive some level of funding, though awards may be less than the full amount requested.

Step 5: Receive your award and deliver training

Award notifications come approximately 6-8 weeks after the application window closes. Once awarded, you have the grant period to complete all training. Keep meticulous records -- attendance sheets, completion certificates, invoices, proof of payment.

Step 6: Submit for reimbursement

After training is complete, submit your reimbursement paperwork through the portal. Reimbursement typically arrives 4-8 weeks after submission. You must document that all training was delivered as proposed and that employees completed the full program.

Federal Grant Programs Worth Exploring

Beyond Going PRO, several federal programs can fund AI and analytics training for Michigan businesses.

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

WIOA funds are administered through local Michigan Works! agencies and can cover training costs for individual employees, particularly those being upskilled or reskilled. While primarily targeted at unemployed or underemployed workers, incumbent worker training is an eligible use of WIOA funds in many regions.

How to access it: Contact your local Michigan Works! agency. There are 16 agencies across the state, each serving a specific region.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)

If your company is developing AI-powered products or services, SBIR/STTR grants can fund R&D activities that include workforce training components. These are competitive federal grants administered by agencies including NSF, DOD, and DOE.

Funding range: Phase I grants are typically $50,000-$275,000. Phase II can reach $1 million or more.

Economic Development Administration (EDA) Programs

The EDA periodically offers grants focused on workforce development in technology sectors, including AI. These are typically channeled through regional economic development organizations.

State-Specific Add-Ons

Michigan occasionally offers supplemental programs through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC):

• Michigan Job Training grants for businesses making significant capital investments
• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for training in designated areas
• Pure Michigan Talent Connect resources for employer-driven training partnerships

How to Pair Grants with Training Programs

The most successful grant applications we have seen share a common structure: they pair a clear business need with a structured training program that produces measurable outcomes.

Here is how we help Michigan businesses structure their grant-funded training:

Phase 1: Assessment (Week 1-2)

Before writing a grant application, we assess the current state:

• What tools and processes are employees using today?
• Where are the biggest skill gaps relative to business goals?
• What does "success" look like in 6 months? In 12 months?
• How many employees need training, and at what level?

This assessment directly feeds the grant narrative. Reviewers want to see that you understand the problem and have a specific plan to solve it.

Phase 2: Curriculum Design (Week 2-4)

We design training programs that are grant-eligible and business-relevant:

• Structured modules with clear learning objectives
• Hands-on exercises using the company's actual data and tools
• Pre and post assessments to document skill improvement
• Completion certificates for each module

Our training programs are already structured to meet Going PRO requirements, which significantly simplifies the application process.

Phase 3: Application and Delivery

We help prepare the grant application narrative, assemble the required documentation, and -- once awarded -- deliver the training within the grant timeline.

What a Funded Training Engagement Looks Like

Here is a real example of how grant funding works in practice:

Company: A 45-person manufacturing company in Southeast Michigan Challenge: Management team was spending 20+ hours per week manually creating reports from spreadsheet data. No one on the team had analytics training. Training program: 8-week analytics fundamentals course covering data organization, visualization with Power BI, KPI development, and automated reporting Employees trained: 12 (3 managers, 4 team leads, 5 analysts) Total training cost: $28,800 Going PRO award: $25,200 (covering 87.5% of costs) Out-of-pocket cost to employer: $3,600 Result: Report generation time dropped from 20+ hours to 4 hours weekly. Two analysts were able to take on strategic projects previously outsourced to consultants, saving approximately $85,000 annually.

The ROI on that $3,600 out-of-pocket investment was extraordinary. And that is not unusual -- it is what happens when you pair quality training with smart use of available funding.

Ready to see if you qualify? Check your eligibility and start the grant process -- it takes less than 30 seconds.

Timeline: Planning Your Grant-Funded Training

Here is a realistic timeline for a company starting from scratch:

Important: The Going PRO application window only opens once or twice per year. If you miss it, you wait until the next cycle. Start planning well before the window opens.

Common Grant Application Mistakes

Vague training descriptions. "We want to train our team on AI" will not get funded. "We will train 15 employees on AI-assisted quality control analysis using structured 6-module curriculum with pre/post competency assessments" will.

No connection to business outcomes. Reviewers want to see that training will lead to specific, measurable improvements. Tie everything back to productivity, revenue, quality, or retention metrics.

Waiting until the last minute. Strong applications take 4-6 weeks to prepare properly. Rushing leads to incomplete documentation and weak narratives.

Not tracking expenses carefully. The reimbursement process requires detailed documentation. Set up your tracking system before training begins, not after.

Applying for more than you can deliver. Be realistic about how many employees you can train within the grant period. An overly ambitious proposal that you cannot fully execute is worse than a modest proposal that you nail.

Start the Process Today

If you are a Michigan business considering AI or analytics training for your team, here is what to do right now:

1. Check your eligibility. Review the Going PRO requirements above. If you are a Michigan employer with full-time staff, you likely qualify.
2. Assess your training needs. Where are your biggest skill gaps? What would change if your team was proficient with data and AI tools?
3. Explore our training programs. Our free Data Storytelling module gives you a taste of our training approach with no commitment. It covers one of the highest-impact skills any business team can develop.
4. Start the grant process. We have been through this process many times and can help you navigate it efficiently. Check your eligibility and book a free consultation to get started.

The money is there. The training programs are ready. The only question is whether you will take advantage of it before your competitors do.