Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren

What Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren does

Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren is a nonprofit workforce development agency headquartered in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and one of 16 state-designated Michigan Works! boards operating as a subsidiary of Kinexus Group. The organization connects individuals of all ages to education, training, and employment opportunities that meet regional employer needs across Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties in Southwest Michigan. Founded in 1987 and operating with 11-50 employees, it delivers services through three physical service centers (Benton Harbor, Paw Paw, and Cassopolis), virtual appointments, online inquiry forms, and community partner locations including libraries, laundromats, and schools.

The organization's core product portfolio is organized around seven primary service lines: Jobseeker Services (job search, resume reviews, interview prep); Adult Education (GED preparation, ESL instruction, math skills); Training Programs (short-term credentials, apprenticeships in manufacturing and trades); Business/Employer Services (recruitment assistance, candidate screening, Going PRO Talent Fund navigation); Youth Programs (ages 14-24, in partnership with Jobs for Michigan's Graduates and Youth Solutions); the Offender Success program (reentry employment support across seven counties via Michigan Department of Corrections partnership); and support services including Mobile Food Pantry and Financial Literacy Workshops (in partnership with Honor Credit Union). Underlying technology is limited to a Wix-hosted website with Google Analytics, online intake forms, virtual appointment scheduling, and a Hot Jobs List tool providing regional job demand and wage data. Co-located within the Benton Harbor facility is Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan, an alternative high school serving grades 9-12.

The business model is entirely grant-funded and free to end users. Operating revenue flows from federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds, State of Michigan appropriations, and competitive state-administered programs such as the Going PRO Talent Fund. In 2025 alone, Michigan Works! BCVB administered $4.99M in Going PRO funding for 81 local employers covering 2,710 trainees, with additional $2.26M and $2.24M awards later in the year; it also participated in $4M of statewide youth grants in April 2026. The organization has no commercial pricing model, no employer-paid service tiers, and no disclosed revenue figures; its customer base is highly distributed across individual job seekers, hundreds of small and mid-sized employers across Healthcare, Manufacturing, Construction, Technology, and Hospitality sectors, young adults, adult learners, and justice-involved individuals.

Name

Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren

Legal name

Michigan Works! Berrien Cass Van Buren

Website

https://miworks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren is a nonprofit workforce development agency, part of the statewide Michigan Works! system under parent Kinexus Group, providing free job placement, training, adult education, youth, and reentry services to job seekers and employers across three Southwest Michigan counties through three service centers and community partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Employment Services (5613), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services (EDAAAOAL), Adult Learner Support Services (Advising, Case Management, Wraparound Supports) (EDAAABAJ), Workplace-Based ASE & Employer-Sponsored High School Equivalency (EDAAABAN), Reentry, Rehabilitation & Reintegration Programs (Education, Vocational, Case Management) (BPAKANAH), Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Adult education programs
• Job seeker services
• Employer recruitment assistance
• Youth employment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Benton Harbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren is a publicly funded workforce development organization supported by the State of Michigan and federal funds through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Services are provided at no cost to job seekers and employers.
2. Grant Administration: The organization administers state and federal grants including the Going PRO Talent Fund and youth employment programs, distributing funds to eligible employers and participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren is a publicly funded, nonprofit workforce development agency that provides free services to job seekers and employers across Southwest Michigan. Core services include job search assistance and career counseling, adult education (GED preparation, ESL, math), short-term credentialed training and apprenticeships, employer recruitment and hiring support, youth employment programs, and reentry support for justice-involved individuals. The organization administers state and federal workforce funding, including the Going PRO Talent Fund, and delivers services through three regional service centers, virtual platforms, and community partner locations.

Product overview

Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren is a workforce development organization (subsidiary of Kinexus Group) providing a comprehensive suite of employment and training services across Southwest Michigan. The organization operates as a single integrated service network rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core service offerings include Jobseeker Services (job search assistance, resume reviews, interview preparation), Adult Education (GED preparation, ESL instruction, math skills development), Training Programs (short-term credentials, apprenticeships), Business/Employer Services (recruitment, Going PRO Talent Fund), Youth Programs (Jobs for Michigan's Graduates partnership, ages 14-24), Offender Success (reentry employment support), and support services including Mobile Food Pantry, Financial Literacy Workshops, and Job Fairs. The Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan provides secondary education for grades 9-12. Services are delivered through three physical service centers and online resources, all provided at no cost to participants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan: Alternative high school serving grades 9-12 located inside Michigan Works! facility in Benton Harbor, offering wraparound services and career exploration
• Jobs for Michigan's Graduates (JMG)
• Youth Solutions
• Offender Success
• Going PRO Talent Fund

Products and services

• Jobseeker Services Comprehensive employment assistance including job search help, career counseling, resume reviews, interview preparation, and job matching services for individuals seeking employment in Southwest Michigan.
• Adult Education GED preparation program offering individualized learning plans, learning labs, at-home study resources, official GED testing, math skills development, and English language instruction for adults seeking credentials or basic education improvement.
• Training Programs Short-term credentialed education support and apprenticeship programs combining paid work experience with classroom training for various occupations including manufacturing and professional trades.
• Business/Employer Services Workforce solutions for employers including recruitment assistance, candidate screening, hiring events, labor market information, training resources, and the Going PRO Talent Fund for workforce development.
• Youth Programs Services for young adults ages 14-24 including paid work experiences, education support, employment assistance, industry-recognized certifications, and career exploration through Jobs for Michigan's Graduates (JMG) partnership.
• Offender Success Program helping recently paroled offenders transition back into communities through job placement, residential stability, health services, and social support, also serving as a talent resource for employers.
• Mobile Food Pantry Free food distribution service open to community members, held monthly at Michigan Works! service centers to address food insecurity among job seekers and community residents.
• Financial Literacy Workshops Free workshops in partnership with Honor Credit Union providing practical guidance on budgeting, saving, building credit, and financial planning.
• ESL (English as a Second Language) Program English language instruction for non-native speakers helping with listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, offered at multiple locations including service centers and community partner sites.
• Going PRO Talent Fund Navigation Competitive state funding helping Michigan employers train and retain workers, with Michigan Works! BCVB helping local businesses navigate the application process and develop training plans across manufacturing, healthcare, construction, technology, hospitality, and other sectors.
• Job Fairs and Hiring Events Regular hiring events connecting employers with job seekers, providing opportunities for direct employer engagement, resume assistance, and professional clothing support for participants.
• Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan High school serving grades 9-12 located inside Michigan Works! facility in Benton Harbor, offering wraparound services, career exploration, and additional support for students pursuing their education.

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Michigan Department of Labor and Economic OpportunitycoreOthers · 17 April 2026State department that awarded $4 million in grants across 16 Michigan Works! Agencies to help youth ages 14-24 overcome employment barriers through career exploration, job skills training, and work experience programs.
• Honor Credit UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Honor Credit Union to deliver free Financial Literacy Workshops focused on practical tips for budgeting, saving, building credit, and planning for financial future. Workshops provide tools and resources to help participants make confident financial decisions.
• Kinexus GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren is a subsidiary of Kinexus Group, which invests in positive economic change across the region. Kinexus Group provides workforce development solutions and is the parent organization of the Michigan Works! network.
• Jobs for Michigan's Graduates (JMG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJMG provides programming for youth in and out of schools, developing competencies in leadership, self-development, workplace expectations, financial literacy, career exploration, and hands-on work-based learning with dedicated adult mentorship.
• Youth SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth Solutions delivers workshop series for young adults across Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties, helping participants prepare for future careers and gain insight into today's workforce through Durable Skills Bootcamps and other programming.
• Bridge Academy of Southwest MichigancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBridge Academy serves grades 9-12 and is located inside Michigan Works! facility in Benton Harbor, providing access to wraparound services, career exploration, and additional support along the education journey.
• Michigan Department of CorrectionscoreOthersState department implementing the Offender Success program that assists recently paroled offenders to transition back into society. Michigan Works! BCVB covers region eight, comprising Berrien, Cass, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Calhoun, and Branch counties.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Year Up: National workforce development nonprofit serving young adults ages 18–24 with training, mentorship, and corporate placement. Comparable for the young-adult target segment and outcome-based funding approach, though operating at greater scale and outside Michigan.
• Literacy Center of West Michigan: Nonprofit providing adult literacy, ESL, and GED-equivalent instruction in West Michigan. Directly comparable to BCVB's Adult Education and ESL program lines, with similar funder base and employer-aligned curriculum.

Direct peers

• West Michigan Works!: Sister Michigan Works! agency covering Ottawa, Muskegon, and surrounding counties. Operates the identical WIOA-funded American Job Center model for job seekers, employers, youth, and adult learners, with comparable Going PRO and Young Professionals programming.
• Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS): State vocational rehabilitation program within the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Closely comparable as a publicly funded workforce intermediary focused on employment outcomes for individuals with barriers.

Regional players

• SW Michigan Community Action Agency: Community-based nonprofit serving low-income residents in Southwest Michigan with workforce, housing, and supportive programs — a complementary regional peer operating in the same employer and participant base.
• Kalamazoo Michigan Works!: Neighbor Michigan Works! agency that shares BCVB's seven-county Offender Success footprint and overlapping employer base in Southwest Michigan. Operationally identical WIOA One-Stop model with direct programmatic overlap.
• Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works!: Peer Michigan Works! agency covering Bay, Midland, Saginaw, and Isabella counties. Comparable WIOA delivery model, employer recruitment services, and youth/adult education programming — though serving a different region of the state.
• Goodwill Industries of Southwest Michigan: Adjacent nonprofit providing employment placement, skills training, and supportive services in the same Southwest Michigan geography. Directly comparable mission (barrier removal, workforce entry) and overlapping employer relationships.

Others

• Michigan Works! Association: Statewide association representing all 16 Michigan Works! agencies. Comparable as the system-level policy and convening body whose funding formula, training standards, and WIOA guidance shape BCVB's operating environment.

Broad incumbents

• Kinexus Group: Parent organization of Michigan Works! BCVB and operator of multiple Michigan Works! agencies. Comparable as the umbrella for the same workforce development model and as the direct administrative/strategic counterpart at the parent level.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MichiganWorks
• Facebookfacebook.com/MiWorks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/michigan-works-bcv
• Instagraminstagram.com/michigan.works.bcv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren