Approximately 100 business and education leaders gathered at HFC  for the Marshall Plan for Talent Workshop to build partnerships that will help move the region – and the state – forward in developing high-demand talent for good-paying careers to close the state’s talent gap as part of Gov. Rick Snyder’s Marshall Plan.

The Marshall Plan is an additional $100 million investment in innovative programs to revolutionize Michigan’s talent and education system. It supports schools that want to transform education through programs like competency-based certifications, world-class curricula and classroom equipment, scholarships and stipends, and support for career navigators and teachers. The funding complements the more than $225 million in existing talent development efforts in the state.

Although this workshop was held at HFC, it was hosted by the Talent and Economic Development Department of Michigan (TED). Both HFC President Russell Kavalhuna and TED Director Roger Curtis spoke. Afterwards, the attendees participated in breakout sessions.

Participants discussed talent needs, potential barriers, and partnerships to help form consortia that will allow them to apply for Marshall Plan funds. All agreed that innovative partnerships are key to revolutionizing Michigan’s education and talent development system.

Through 2024, Michigan will have more than 811,000 career openings in fields that are facing a critical talent shortage. As the state considers talent preparation changes for these fields, the greatest demand for talent will be in increasingly high-skill, high-tech fields such as information technology and computer science, manufacturing, healthcare, and other business and professional trades careers.

“The Marshall Plan will promote innovative partnerships between educators and employers to prepare Michigan citizens for the thousands of well-paying jobs in our state and region,” said Kavalhuna. “HFC is uniquely positioned with existing programming to help make the Marshall Plan a success by working with K-12 schools and our industry partners to prepare students in such fields as nursing, skilled trades, and cybersecurity. At HFC, we are FutureDriven, which makes our programs a natural fit for the Marshall Plan’s goal of preparing students to meet employers’ needs as they exist today and tomorrow.” 

For more information about the Marshall Plan for Talent, visit michigan.gov/marshallplan.