LANSING, Mich., June 6, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Labor shut down operations on dozens of Job Corps centers across the United States, including three sites in Flint, Detroit and Grand Rapids. This proposal has threatened to halt the career paths of over 12,000 young people nationwide, including 212 students served annually in Grand Rapids at the Gerald R. Ford Job Corps Center. These students are trained annually in high-demand fields such as construction, culinary arts, security, medical office administration and certified nursing assistance. It also supports 112 staff members and significantly contributes to the regional economy. After the center’s closure, state Rep. Kristian Grant (D-Grand Rapids) issued the following statement:

“This decision is devastating. The abrupt closure of Job Corps centers doesn’t just disrupt programs — it disrupts lives. These students, many of whom already face significant barriers, are now left with uncertainty about their education, their career paths, and their future stability.

“But it’s not only students who are impacted — 112 dedicated staff members in Grand Rapids are also facing the sudden loss of their livelihoods. These professionals provide mentorship, training, and support that students rely on to succeed. Stripping them of their jobs and dismantling a program they have poured themselves into is not just harmful — it’s deeply unjust.

“At a time when our country is facing a critical shortage of skilled tradespeople, a growing housing crisis and aging infrastructure in need of urgent repair, eliminating the Job Corps program is both shortsighted and harmful. We should be modernizing and expanding programs like Job Corps — not dismantling them. Defunding this program will unravel decades of investments in both our state’s future and in the people who are committed to building it.

“The consequences would be long-lasting — not only for the students it serves, but for the communities that rely on their skills and contributions. I know our Grand Rapids community members are anxious about all the uncertainty that is hitting us — I remain committed to bringing back stability for everyone, especially for those who need it the most like participants in Jobs Corps programs.”

Grant sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, emphasizing the importance of Job Corps.

###