Educated Workforce Pathway Planning Grant
In alignment with our vivid vision for change, we are thrilled to announce the launch of the Educated Workforce Pathway Planning Grant. Our vision is to create a Michigan where at least 60% of residents hold a postsecondary certificate or degree by 2030. For us, access is just the beginning. We believe that persistence, attainment, and completion are the true measures of success for all students. To achieve this, we are committed to connecting systems, fostering trust among system leaders, and ensuring that all three systems — K-12, higher education, and the workforce — align resources to meet the diverse needs of individuals, communities, organizations, and institutions.At the heart of our vision for this work is the belief that college is a necessity, a public good, and should be accessible to everyone.
Through the Educated Workforce Pathway Planning Grant, MCAN aims to support cross-sector community teams to lead the charge in their community to connect historically fragmented systems and dismantle the false dichotomy between college and career. The Educated Workforce Pathway Planning Grant is specifically designed for teams that seek to strengthen and improve a college-going culture through articulated, transferable and stackable credit in higher education. This grant aims to offer the capacity and support necessary for planning teams to collaborate with community partners, advance the planning process, and solidify a local cross-sector action plan. The planning grant activities should be anchored in a strategic planning framework and specifically focused on one of the following priorities:
- Articulated CTE
- College credit/completion within apprenticeships
- College credit for industry-recognized credentials
Important Dates
Application Release: Funding opportunity made available on April 28, 2025
Deadline: Applications are due by July 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
Application Notification: Applicants will be notified by Aug. 1, 2025.
Eligibility
Teams interested in a cross-sector planning process focused on systems change aligned with one of the following priorities are eligible to apply: articulated CTE pathways, college credit/completion within apprenticeships, and college credit for industry-recognized credentials. Teams may apply for a grant of up to $5,000 to support the development and finalization of a collaborative action plan aligned with the selected priority. One organization per team should serve as the grant applicant and recipient on behalf of the community. Teams should include relevant members from K-12, higher education, workforce, and community-based organizations.
Grant Award
Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to communities across the state. These grants are not intended to be renewable or a long-term funding source. Each grant will be awarded for a duration of 12 months.
Proposal Submission
Proposals are only accepted using Michigan College Access Network’s online grants system.