LANSING — Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a directive and secured federal funding to train 5,000 infrastructure workers. Executive Directive 2024-1 will help train 5,000 new infrastructure workers, who will each earn an industry-recognized certificate or credential or receive on-the-job training. The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) will work to ensure all 5,000 workers receive their training and are placed in good-paying jobs.
“We are building up our infrastructure in Michigan, from our roads and bridges to our pipes and high-speed internet,” said Governor Whitmer. “To help us get the job done, I am signing an executive directive today that will help train 5,000 new infrastructure workers. Thanks to our partners in the Biden-Harris administration, we have already received more than $10 billion to build up our infrastructure and there are billions more headed our way for advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and so much more. Let’s harness this extraordinary opportunity by creating good-paying, high-skill job opportunities for Michiganders.”
According to reporting by The Gander:
“In 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—marking a key piece of his economic agenda and the most significant investment in America’s infrastructure in generations. Since it was signed into law, more than $400 billion has been funneled into over 40,000 specific infrastructure projects across over 4,500 communities in all 50 states.
This funding has upgraded highways, invested in transit systems, improved water systems, funded lead pipe replacement, expanded access to high-speed internet, and more. New projects are still breaking ground, and the investments have fueled a construction and manufacturing boom that’s contributed to millions of new jobs created over the past two years.”
The move was praised by labor leaders, economic development experts and businesses:
“Michigan is full speed ahead on infrastructure, and the hardworking men and women of the building and construction trades stand ready to get the job done,” said Steve Claywell, President of the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council. “Governor Whitmer and our friends in the Biden-Harris administration have made building infrastructure a priority, and today’s executive directive will help thousands more Michiganders get the skills they need to land good-paying union jobs. We are excited to demonstrate the skills of our registered skilled workforce at the forefront of innovation and reliable infrastructure in the state as we continue to fix roads and bridges, upgrade water systems, and so much more. Together, we will create more paths to the middle class in Michigan through good-paying union jobs.”
“Investing in workforce readiness isn’t just the key to building world-class infrastructure, it literally transforms lives,” said Chong-Anna Canfora, Executive Director of the Michigan Workforce Development Institute. “Our work to provide free access to apprenticeship-readiness training and open up paths to the middle class via the skilled trades, particularly for women and other underrepresented groups in the construction industry, is made possible by support from state and federal leaders. We applaud Governor Whitmer for making workforce development a key pillar in her statewide infrastructure plan, and are especially grateful to the Biden administration for dedicating this crucial funding to support us as we do this work.”
“As Michigan moves toward implementing a long-term, equitable, and sustainable infrastructure investment plan, we will need a strong workforce to fix our roads and bridges,” said Rob Coppersmith, Executive Vice President of the Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association. “Michigan’s construction industry stands ready to build the infrastructure that future generations will rely on, and we’re excited by the Governor’s action to grow our construction workforce.”
