If you run a Michigan business and are considering AI or automation for your team, there's a state program that most business owners have never heard of — and it can cover a meaningful portion of the cost.

The Michigan Going PRO Talent Fund is a state-administered grant program that reimburses Michigan employers for training costs. And in 2026, AI-related training is explicitly eligible.

Here's exactly what qualifies, what doesn't, and how to apply.

What Is the Going PRO Talent Fund?

The Going PRO Talent Fund is administered by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) through your local Michigan Works! agency.

The program's purpose is to help Michigan employers train their workforce in skills that advance business competitiveness — which now explicitly includes AI and automation.

The basics:

What AI Projects Qualify

The Going PRO fund covers training — not software or hardware purchases. But the line between "training" and "implementation" is broader than most business owners think.

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Clearly eligible:

At American AI Solutions LLC, every project we deliver includes a training component — live instruction, recorded walkthroughs, and written SOPs for your team. We document this training with timestamps and outcome records, which is what Michigan Works! reviewers need to process the application. You get a working AI system and the training costs reimbursed — not as an afterthought, but as part of the proposal from day one.

What Doesn't Qualify

The fund will not reimburse:

The key distinction: The fund is for training your workforce. As long as the AI project involves training Michigan employees on how to use or operate the system, the training costs are eligible.

How Much Can You Actually Get Back?

The reimbursement is $2,000 per trained employee (or $3,500 per USDOL Registered Apprentice). Your total depends entirely on how many employees complete the training program. For a typical AI automation project that includes staff training:

Trainees Completing ProgramTotal Reimbursement
3–6 employees trained$6,000–$12,000
8–15 employees trained$16,000–$30,000
20–25 employees trained$40,000–$50,000

At a $15,000 AI project for a 30-employee manufacturer that includes comprehensive staff training:

Not a complete offset — but a meaningful reduction that changes the math on whether a project pencils out.

How to Apply: Step by Step

Step 1: Contact Your Local Michigan Works! Office

Each county in Michigan has a Michigan Works! agency. Detroit and Metro Detroit businesses use the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA) or Wayne Metro's Michigan Works!.

Call or email your office. Ask to speak with the Going PRO Talent Fund coordinator. This is a real person who will walk you through the application — don't be intimidated by the process.

Step 2: Apply Before the Project Starts

This is critical: Going PRO applications must be submitted and approved before training begins. You cannot apply retroactively.

Application windows open typically in October (start of the state fiscal year) and may have additional rounds depending on fund availability.

Tip: Apply as soon as you know you're moving forward with an AI project. Approval typically takes 2–4 weeks. We build application timing into every project kickoff at American AI Solutions.

Step 3: Document the Training

During the project, Michigan Works! reviewers want to see:

We provide all of this documentation as part of our standard project delivery.

Step 4: Submit for Reimbursement

After training is delivered, submit invoices for the training costs, documentation from Step 3, and employer certification that the training occurred as documented. Reimbursement typically arrives within 30–60 days of submission approval.

Other Michigan Grants to Know

Going PRO isn't the only option. Depending on your industry and business type, you may also qualify for:

Michigan Industry 4.0 Technology Grant (for manufacturers)
MEDC program specifically for small manufacturers (NAICS 31–33, SBA size standards) deploying advanced manufacturing technology including AI. Applications through michiganbusiness.org via MMTC assessment. Up to $25,000 (50% reimbursement of implementation costs).

Michigan Health Endowment Fund (for healthcare organizations)
Grants for Michigan healthcare organizations implementing patient care technology. Applications quarterly at michiganhealth.org. $10,000–$500,000 range.

SBA 7(a) Technology Loan (for small businesses)
For AI software and automation systems. Up to $350,000, 10-year term. Through the SBA Michigan District Office.

Why Michigan Businesses Aren't Using These Programs

In our conversations with Michigan business owners, most have heard of the Going PRO fund — but haven't applied because:

  1. They don't know AI training qualifies
  2. They're worried the application is too complex
  3. They don't know how to structure a project to be eligible

All three of these are solvable. The application is a 2–3 hour process. Michigan Works! staff are helpful. And structuring an engagement to qualify is straightforward when you know what the reviewers are looking for.

The businesses that are using these programs are getting meaningful reductions on projects they were already planning to do.

Find Out What You Qualify For

Book a free 30-minute strategy call. We'll walk through your AI opportunity, identify which Michigan grants apply, and show you how to structure the project to maximize reimbursement. Written summary within 48 hours.

Book a Free Strategy Call

American AI Solutions LLC  ·  Southgate, Michigan  ·  david04calderon@gmail.com