Great Lakes Wire

A $55 million grant toward the Michigan Reconnect program is expected to spur more state residents to obtain a college degree or skills certificate.

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II highlighted the program recently during an event at Mott Community College, a press release from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office said. 

“I am proud to celebrate the historic progress we have made helping more Michiganders get tuition-free education and skills training,” Gilchrist said in the release. “In the 18 months since we launched Michigan Reconnect, we have seen more than 100,000 people accepted into the program and provided ongoing funding through next year’s state budget. Those are big wins, but the biggest winners are the hardworking Michiganders taking advantage of this trailblazing program.”

Gilchrist added that, along with the governor, he would continue to work with state lawmakers to provide more opportunities for Michiganders.

The program is expected to add more citizens to the more than 100,000 people who are already involved with Michigan Reconnect.

“The Michigan Reconnect program is all about helping people achieve their dreams,” Sen. Jim Ananich (D-Flint) said in the release. “As the Democratic leader of the Michigan Senate, I am proud to be part of the bipartisan effort to help remove barriers and ease the way for adult learners on the road to achieving their higher education goals. Whether you’re right here at Mott or another one of our excellent community colleges around the state, opportunities are available to you.”

Ananich added that people need backing in order to realize their potential, and employers stand to benefit from workers with a higher skill set.

“As a state, we’re obviously focused on the economic benefits of education: to individuals, their families and their communities,” Sarah Szurpicki, director of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Sixty by 30, said in the release. “But what we hear from our Reconnect students is that the benefit goes far beyond the economic impact. They set out to accomplish something difficult, and they feel pride. They feel hopeful. They feel confident. And their families feel proud of them, too. And I believe those rewards, while harder to measure, will continue to benefit them throughout their lives. We need to encourage even more Michiganders to start on the road to higher earnings and a more secure future.”