Closing a Transformative Chapter, Opening New Opportunities
In 2021, the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA) Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN) was awarded a $10 million U.S. Department of Labor H-1B One Workforce grant. Now, as the initiative concludes in early-2026, we reflect on the progress made, the partnerships formed, and the people whose careers were changed by this statewide effort.
Building Michigan’s Talent Future
The One Workforce Industry Infinity (OWII) initiative focused on closing talent gaps in three critical sectors: advanced manufacturing, information technology (IT), and transportation, distribution, and logistics (TDL). Nearly $2 million of the grant specifically funded the development of short-term, high-impact training programs. These programs were designed to meet the needs of both job seekers and employers—fast, flexible, and aligned with real-world demands.
WIN, in collaboration with nine community colleges and seven Michigan Works! Agencies brought a strategic lens to this challenge, merging labor market data with industry insights to build a modern workforce pipeline. The goal was not only to educate, but to empower. And the stories that have emerged from this work speak volumes.
Short-Term Training, Long-Term Impact
The Industry Infinity model emphasized stackable credentials—short-term training that leads to immediate job placement, with room for growth. This format helps workers enter or advance in the workforce without the delay of traditional degree pathways. Employer input was key to shaping the curriculum, ensuring alignment with in-demand skills and job openings.
Across Michigan, community colleges and Michigan Works! Agencies collaborated to deliver training in robotics, cybersecurity, CDL-A licensure, maintenance, and more. Agencies played a crucial role in supporting jobseekers, providing funding assistance, career coaching, job matching, and follow-up support after placement.
More Than Just Training—Real People, Real Progress
Throughout the OWII program:
- Workers like H. Adam turned driving credentials into leadership roles.
- Clients like A. Almohsini pivoted into technical trades after training.
- The Nasser family exemplified how CDL training supports multiple earners within households.
- Participants like K. Ali climbed from $14.50/hour to over $30/hour with continued growth and mobility.
These outcomes demonstrate how short-term training, when aligned with industry demand and supported by strong workforce systems, can create lasting economic opportunity.
A Statewide Impact Built on Regional Partnership
Though rooted in Southeast Michigan, OWII reached across the state. Community colleges and Michigan Works! Agencies in every region helped design and deliver credentialing pathways that support Michigan’s present and future workforce needs.
The innovation fostered under this grant will continue to influence workforce strategies and community colleges, even as the grant period comes to a close. The partnerships forged, systems improved, and stories written will have a ripple effect far beyond 2026.
Call to Action: Keep the Momentum Going
The One Workforce Industry Infinity grant may be ending, but its impact lives on. Whether you're a jobseeker exploring new training, an employer seeking skilled talent, or a policymaker invested in workforce transformation:
- Contact your local Michigan Works! Agency to learn more about available programs and funding.
- Explore community college offerings for short-term credentials in IT, manufacturing, and logistics.
- Employers: Partner with workforce boards to inform curriculum and access talent pipelines.
Together, we’ve laid the groundwork for a more agile, equitable, and responsive workforce. Now, let’s keep building on it.
The Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN) and SEMCA thank all partners, agencies, educators, employers, and most importantly—the jobseekers—for making Industry Infinity a success.
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it.
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