Dear Neighbor,

I’m excited to share that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has announced the launch of the MI Reconnect Program. As many of you know, this bill would not have been possible without the passage of my legislation, now Public Act 69, as well as the bipartisan support from my colleagues, and I am so proud to have played a role in getting this initiative off the ground throughout the past year. Click here to watch the virtual press conference that kicked off the beginning of the program.

As of 2019, only 42% of Michigan’s working-age residents had an associate degree or higher. Michiganders without a college degree or training credential often face economic challenges, and this program will bring us one step closer to ensuring everyone in our state has access to a high quality, good paying job.

Michigan employers’ ability to find highly skilled employees is more difficult than ever and is cited as a top concern in the most recent Michigan Future Business Index Report. The MI Reconnect program will serve as a vital tool in our tool box for addressing a widening skills gap and aging workforce within our state.

This will also help us move forward in our statewide efforts to have 60% of working-age adults achieve a skill certificate or college degree by 2030. For more information on the sixty by 30 goal, click here.

Continue reading below for additional information on this important program. Please don’t hesitate to contact my office by sending an email to SarahAnthony@house.mi.gov or calling (517) 373-0826.

In Service,

Sarah Anthony

State Representative, 68th House District

Additional MI Reconnect Info

The MI Reconnect program will help pay the costs of tuition or training for eligible adults who want to pursue an associate or technical degree. The program also offers skills scholarships to help cover the cost of tuition at more than 70 private training schools with 120 programs to earn certification in manufacturing, construction, information technology, health care or business management. In order to be eligible for Michigan Reconnect, adults must meet the following criteria:

  •     Age 25 or older
  •     High school graduate or equivalent
  •     Michigan resident for at least one year
  •     Not yet completed a college degree (associate or bachelor’s)

The Michigan Reconnect program will pay the remaining balance of tuition and mandatory fees after other state and federal financial aid have been applied.

To access the application and additional program information, visit Michigan.gov/Reconnect, with enrollment in classes beginning May 2021.