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OPINION: Going PRO shortchanged twice with governor’s veto, Legislature’s supplemental plan
RELEASE|December 30, 2019

By state Rep. Mark Huizenga of Walker

At a recent local event, I was approached by a small business owner who took me aside and spoke glowingly and passionately about how valuable the Going PRO initiative was for his employees. It was a lengthy conversation that I imagine has played out countless times across the state since this program’s inception. Going PRO represents a true “win-win” not often seen in today’s marketplace.

Employees are given the opportunity to improve their skills, which results in better job security and greater compensation. The program finally gives those in the skilled trades industry the opportunity for upward mobility in the job market. It enables them to be well-positioned to secure good-paying jobs with good benefits. This program provides a proven pathway to greater prosperity and makes life and work easier.

Working toward a better tomorrow and the betterment of our district is at the heart of our calling as state legislators and policymakers. In that light, I was very disappointed vetoed funding for Going PRO was not restored within a recently passed supplemental budget. This program has been a documented success that diversifies Michigan’s workforce and positions the state to attract prospective businesses as we work to meet the demand for employees in the ever-evolving job market.

The Legislature had previously voted to approve funding for this program for the current fiscal year. The governor’s 2020 budget recommendation had included a total allocation of almost $28 million. But she vetoed every single penny of funding for it – after previously supporting it.

The about-face from the governor and lack of retroactive restoration has significant implications for West Michigan. The Michigan Works! Association for West Michigan distributed nearly $10 million of job training funds in Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, Allegan, Barry, Ionia, and Montcalm counties in 2019 – far and away the most for any portion of the state. This program was highly touted by area employees and employers alike. There were 360 job providers in West Michigan that applied for Going PRO funding for 2020, including 179 that are new to the program.

Employers receiving Going PRO funds are required to at least match the state’s investment in their workforce development programs. How much investment and employee development occurs now that the programs future is in limbo remains to be seen.

The last two months were undoubtedly difficult as my colleges and I worked to restore funding slashed by the governor. But we needed to work together to restore as much funding as possible from those initial misguided, damaging and politically motivated cuts. The current proposal we sent to the governor is a promising start and supplies critical funding for our state’s children, law enforcement, veterans and others across Michigan.

But by excluding Going PRO, we missed an opportunity to position Michigan as an employment leader. We lost an opportunity to ready our workforce for the self-sustaining jobs of tomorrow.

As my first year as a state legislator ends, I have seen throughout this process that patience and diligent work delivers results. This, along with what I have heard from people who have had their lives changed for the better by this program, drives me to continue working for Going PRO funding as we head into the new year.

Rep. Mark Huizenga, of Walker, is in his first term in the Michigan House serving residents in the 74th District, which encompasses the cities of Walker, Grandville, Rockford and Cedar Springs, as well as Solon, Tyrone, Sparta, Algoma and Alpine townships

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