Michigan Works! Association

What Michigan Works! Association does

Michigan Works! Association is a Lansing, Michigan-based private nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization, founded in 1987, that coordinates Michigan's statewide publicly funded workforce development system. It represents and supports 16 local Michigan Works! Agencies (Regions A through P) that deliver employment and training services through American Job Centers across all 83 Michigan counties. The Association serves two principal customer segments: (1) Michigan residents — job seekers, youth, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and incumbent workers — who access free career counseling, job placement, training, apprenticeships, and barrier-removal support; and (2) Michigan employers — primarily small and mid-sized businesses, manufacturers, healthcare systems, and public-sector employers — who access the Going PRO Talent Fund grant program, registered apprenticeship support, recruitment services, and labor market intelligence. The Association's core products include the Business Solutions Professional (BSP) training and certification program (IACET-accredited, training approximately 80 professionals annually), the Going PRO Talent Fund (which has administered $323.4 million across 8,966 businesses since 2014), MiCareerQuest regional career-exploration events, the MI Workforce Impact & Insight Dashboard, and an annual conference hosted in rotating Michigan cities.

The Association does not develop proprietary technology products; its core capability is a demand-driven service delivery model implemented through the statewide agency network, with services delivered in-person, by phone (800-285-WORKS), and virtually. Underlying technical components are limited to the MI Workforce Impact & Insight Dashboard and Squarespace-hosted web properties; no API, mobile app, or SDK is offered. The Association's intellectual property consists almost entirely of program curricula (notably the IACET-accredited BSP program) and brand recognition rather than software assets. In June 2026, the Association extended its product surface via a partnership with Google to distribute free AI and career-training resources through the network.

Revenue mechanics derive from three sources: federal and state workforce development funding allocated through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and state appropriations (the dominant stream and the channel for pass-through programs such as Going PRO), membership dues from the 16 Michigan Works! Agencies, and registration, sponsorship, and exhibitor fees from the annual conference. Services to job seekers and employers are delivered free of charge at the point of use. The Association is led by CEO Ryan Hundt (since 2021) and is governed by a Board of Directors drawn from the regional agencies.

Name

Michigan Works! Association

Legal name

The Michigan Works! Association

Website

https://michiganworks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Michigan Works! Association is a Lansing-based nonprofit coordinating Michigan's 16 regional workforce development agencies, delivering free employment, training, and apprenticeship services to job seekers and employer-funded programs such as the Going PRO Talent Fund to businesses statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Business Associations (813910), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Labor, Employment Standards & Workforce Development Administration (BPAIABAN)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Employment training programs
• Apprenticeship coordination
• Career counseling services
• Job placement assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Lansing

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Grants: As a workforce development association representing Michigan's publicly funded workforce system, the primary revenue stream comes from federal and state government funding allocated through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and state appropriations. Funding supports programs including the Going PRO Talent Fund, apprenticeships, and job seeker services.
2. Membership Dues: The Association generates revenue through membership fees from its 16 Michigan Works! Agency members, providing professional development, advocacy, and networking services to the network.
3. Annual Conference and Events: Revenue generated from annual conference registrations, sponsorships, and exhibitor fees for the Michigan Works! Annual Conference.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Michigan Works! Association is a 501(c)(3) statewide non-profit membership organization that coordinates Michigan's publicly-funded workforce development system through a network of 16 regional Michigan Works! Agencies and American Job Centers. The Association provides professional development, advocacy, and shared services to its member agencies, while the network delivers job seeker career counseling, training, apprenticeships, and employer talent solutions to Michigan residents and businesses.

Product overview

Michigan Works! Association is a statewide workforce development organization that coordinates a network of 16 regional workforce development agencies across Michigan. The Association provides its members with professional development through the IACET-accredited Business Solutions Professional (BSP) Program with certification and training tracks; organizes MiCareerQuest career exploration events for students; administers the Going PRO Talent Fund grant program for employer training reimbursement; and offers the MI Workforce Impact & Insight Dashboard for labor market analytics. The core service delivery operates through regional Michigan Works! agencies that form the American Job Center Network, providing employment services, apprenticeship coordination, and business solutions to job seekers and employers statewide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Solutions Professional (BSP) Program An IACET-accredited certified professional development program that educates approximately 80 Business Solutions Professionals annually in workforce development skills including talent development, economic development, education partnerships, and applying the BSP model to real-world business challenges. Participants earn IACET Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
• MiCareerQuest Hands-on career exploration events held regionally across Michigan where students rotate through five high-demand industries — agribusiness, advanced manufacturing, construction, health sciences, and information technology — engaging with professionals and participating in activities that showcase high-growth occupations.
• Going PRO Talent Fund State-funded pay-for-performance reimbursement program that helps Michigan businesses recover employee training costs. Since 2014, has invested $323.4 million across 8,966 businesses and supported training for more than 241,600 Michigan workers, with workers completing training seeing an average 6.2% hourly wage increase.
• MI Workforce Impact & Insight Dashboard Statewide workforce data dashboard providing labor market information and strategic insights for workforce development decision-making across Michigan.
• Michigan Works! American Job Center Network Statewide network of 16 regional Michigan Works! Agencies delivering employment support, training, credentials, and career services to job seekers, and connecting employers with qualified candidates. Operates as part of the national American Job Center network across Michigan's 83 counties.
• Apprenticeship Works! Program connecting job seekers with pre-apprenticeship programs for youth and adults and connecting employers with Apprenticeship Success Coordinators to develop and register apprenticeship programs with the U.S. Department of Labor. 91% of apprentices stay at the job where they received training and employers receive an average $1.47 back in productivity for every dollar spent on apprenticeship.

Quantifiable outcome

• 241,600+ workers trained through Going PRO Talent Fund since 2014
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• GooglemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026Michigan Works! Association and Google announced a partnership in June 2026 to bring free AI and career training to Michigan residents. The partnership aims to expand access to artificial intelligence skills training and career development resources across the state through the Michigan Works! network.
• Michigan Higher Education Attainment (MIHEART) RoundtablecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 September 2025Michigan Works! Association joined the MIHEART Roundtable, a cross-sector collaborative convened by the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN). Other new members include the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM), and Launch Michigan. The Roundtable focuses on the 2025-26 Talent Sustainability Agenda with ten key policy priorities.
• Skilltrade, Detroit at Work, Focus: HOPEmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Three-way partnership between Skilltrade, Detroit at Work (DESC), and Focus: HOPE to launch a 20-week Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) Program specifically designed to serve Detroit residents and meet the needs of local healthcare employers. This partnership creates a scalable model for healthcare workforce development across Michigan.
• Pure Michigan Talent ConnectcoreOthersPure Michigan Talent Connect is the official Michigan state website for job hunters seeking careers and employers looking to post jobs and hire employees. Michigan Works! network connects job seekers and employers through this platform.
• Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEO oversees workforce development programs and the Going PRO Talent Fund. The Association advocates for adequate funding from LEO and collaborates on workforce policy and program design. LEO Deputy Director Stephanie Beckhorn was named the Association's 2025 Champion of Workforce Development.
• U.S. Department of LaborcoreOthersUSDOL administers Registered Apprenticeship programs at the national level. Michigan Works! agencies register apprenticeship programs with USDOL and connect employers with Apprenticeship Success Coordinators. USDOL launched the 'Discover Apprenticeship' campaign to raise awareness of registered apprenticeships.
• American Job Center NetworkcoreOthersThe 16 Michigan Works! Agencies are all proud partners of the American Job Center network. American Job Centers provide job seekers and employers with free access to employment services, training, and career resources. This is the primary service delivery mechanism for the Michigan Works! system.
• Michigan Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMichigan's leading statewide business advocacy organization. The Association and Chamber share workforce development priorities and collaborate on workforce policy advocacy.
• Veterans' Employment and Training Services (VETS)minorOthersVETS provides information to veterans on how to find work and gives employers information on how to hire qualified veterans. Michigan Works! agencies provide veterans-specific employment services as proud partners of the American Job Center network.
• Michigan Community College AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichigan Works! connects job seekers to community college education and training programs. Michigan Reconnect program (free tuition for adults 25+) is administered through community colleges statewide.
• Stiegler EdTechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStiegler EdTech co-founder and COO Pasha Maher connected with Michigan Works! Association CEO Ryan Hundt for planning a cohort launch in Detroit, indicating a partnership for EdTech workforce training programs.
• Michigan Diversity Education CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMichigan-based nonprofit committed to providing quality diversity education and training to help businesses become more diverse and inclusive. Partner for diversity, equity, and inclusion training for employers and workforce professionals.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB): National membership organization for the country's 600+ local workforce development boards. Comparable in mission of supporting the publicly-funded workforce system but operates at the national rather than state level.
• National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA): National organization representing the 50 state workforce agencies that administer WIOA, unemployment insurance, and labor market information. Comparable as a higher-level umbrella body for state workforce systems including Michigan Works!.

Direct peers

• New York Association of Training & Employment Professionals (NYATEP): New York statewide membership association representing workforce development boards, agencies, and partners. Closely comparable as a state-level nonprofit membership organization supporting a WIOA-aligned workforce network.
• Texas Workforce Solutions: Texas's publicly-funded workforce development system administering employer training and job seeker services through local Workforce Solutions Offices. Comparable in scale and structure as another large state workforce system.
• Florida Workforce Development Association: Statewide association representing Florida's regional workforce development boards and career source Florida network. Closely comparable in structure as a state nonprofit convener for WIOA-aligned workforce services.
• Pennsylvania Workforce Development Association: Pennsylvania's statewide membership organization for the workforce development system. Directly comparable in mission, member composition, and advocacy role for state workforce investment.
• Wisconsin Workforce Development Association: Wisconsin's statewide association supporting the Job Center and workforce development board network. Comparable as a neighboring Midwestern state association performing similar member-agency coordination and advocacy functions.
• Ohio Workforce Association: Statewide association representing Ohio's workforce development system and partner organizations. Directly comparable peer organization advocating for workforce investment and professional development in an adjacent Midwestern state.
• California Workforce Association: Statewide association representing California's workforce development network under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Directly comparable to Michigan Works! Association in mission, structure, and member-agency model.

Others

• Michigan Chamber of Commerce: Michigan's leading statewide business advocacy organization and listed partner of Michigan Works! Association. Comparable as a Michigan-focused advocacy and employer-network organization that shares workforce policy priorities but does not directly operate workforce programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MichWorksAssn
• Facebookfacebook.com/MichiganWorks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/michigan-works-association

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Michigan Works! Association