Federal Official Tours Pro Academy, Highlights Need for Technical Training in Michigan

*PORTAGE, Mich.* — U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer was in West Michigan Monday, touring a trades training facility operated by Pro Services Inc. in Portage that's helping equip the next generation of industrial maintenance mechanics.

Pro Academy offers a state-licensed apprenticeship program for Industrial Maintenance Mechanic Journeyman certification, training workers with the technical skills needed to maintain and repair heavy manufacturing equipment.

"One million active apprentices was one of the very first executive orders the President said," recounted Secretary Chavez-DeRemer during her visit. "Labor and business together and say there's enough of an economic pie that we don't have to compete with each other. We can actually grow that pie and everybody can have a good living. And so that's where my focus has been."

The visit came as federal officials and local leaders push to bring manufacturing jobs back to American soil and ensure workers have the technical training needed to fill those positions.

Record Shortage of Skilled Trades Workers

A recent study conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a new loss of well over a million job vacancies in skilled trades, including construction, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and welding by the year 2030, and hundreds of thousands of new construction openings every year.

That's something Secretary Chavez-DeRemer says needs to be fixed by increasing enrollment in technical training.

"Make American Skilled again matters," said Secretary Chavez-DeRemer. "It's the private sector that's going to drive this."

Congressman Highlights Demand for Manufacturing Workers

Chavez-DeRemer was invited to Pro Academy in Portage by West Michigan U.S. Congressman Bill Huizenga (R - MI), who has long advocated for policies that would attract business investment back to Michigan.

"My family's in construction," Huizenga said. "I'm seeing it, and I'm seeing the demand."

According to Huizenga, too many manufacturing jobs have left U.S. soil. He said the Trump Administration is doing what it can to re-attract large scale business investment by enacting trade tariffs, eliminating over-time taxes and prioritizing key trades, including construction.

Registered Apprenticeship Pathway

The training at Pro Academy follows a Registered Apprenticeship model, which is a Department of Labor/Office of Apprenticeship recognized training pathway supported by the State of Michigan.

Registered apprenticeship allows an employer to create a customized skilled trades training program that provides workers with both on-the-job training and classroom instruction. This pathway is considered one of the most effective ways to prepare workers for high-demand technical careers.

Secretary Chavez-DeRemer emphasized that the federal government sees apprenticeship as a key strategy for addressing the skilled labor shortage.

"Labor and business together and say there's enough of an economic pie that we don't have to compete with each other. We can actually grow that pie and everybody can have a good living," she said.

Michigan's Workforce Development Landscape

Michigan has several programs to support workers entering skilled trades, including:

  • LEO-endorsed Apprenticeship Readiness and Pre-Apprenticeship training programs that prepare workers for Registered Apprenticeship Programs
  • Michigan Community Alliance offers an Apprenticeship Readiness Program for those interested in entering skilled trades
  • The State of Michigan works with local organizations to create customized training pathways for high-demand industries

The miapprenticeship.org website serves as a central resource for workers and employers looking to explore registered apprenticeship opportunities across Michigan.

What's Next

As Secretary Chavez-DeRemer's visit highlighted, the push to bring manufacturing jobs back to America depends on ensuring workers have the technical skills needed to fill those positions. Programs like Pro Academy's Industrial Maintenance Mechanic training are critical to that effort.

Congressman Huizenga plans to continue advocating for policies that would attract manufacturing investment back to Michigan and support the workers who keep these industries running.

"I'm seeing it, and I'm seeing the demand," Huizenga said.

The next steps will involve expanding apprenticeship programs and ensuring that workers across Michigan have access to the technical training needed to succeed in high-demand careers.