MI Offers Free College To Front-Line Workers. See If You Qualify.

MICHIGAN — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined state education, business and labor leaders Thursday in announcing a program offering tuition-free college to more than 625,000 Michiganders who provided essential services while the Stay Home, Stay Safe order was in place from April-June 2020.

The governor said the program, named Futures for Frontliners, is the first of its kind in the nation, and urged those qualified for the free tuition to apply for the program.

“This initiative is Michigan’s way of expressing gratitude to essential workers for protecting public health and keeping our state running,” Whitmer said. “Whether it was stocking shelves, delivering supplies, picking up trash, manufacturing PPE or providing medical care, you were there for us. Now this is your chance to pursue the degree or training you’ve been dreaming about to help you and your own family succeed.”

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The program was inspired by the GI Bill, which provided college degree to those serving their country in WWII, the governor's office said. It offers Michigan adults without college degrees or high school diplomas who provided essential services during the pandemic a tuition-free pathway to college.

The funding is not only available to those in the medical field, but also essential workers in manufacturing, nursing homes, grocery stores, sanitation, delivery, retail and more, according to the governor's office.

Are you wondering if you're eligible for the program? To apply, applicants must:

• Be a Michigan resident
• Have worked in an essential industry at least part-time for 11 of the 13 weeks between April 1 – June 30, 2020
• Have been required by their job to work outside the home at least some of the time between April 1 – June 30, 2020
• Not have previously earned an associate or bachelor’s degree
• Not be in default on a Federal student loan
• Complete a Futures for Frontliners scholarship application by 11:59 p.m., Dec. 31, 2020

More information on the program can be found here.

The program is a $24M investment funded by Governor’s Education Emergency Relief Fund — part of the CARES Act, and supports the state’s Sixty by 30 goal announced at the Governor’s first state of the state address to increase the number of working-age Michiganders completing an a industry certificate, college degree or apprenticeship.

Whitmer said a more educated workforce is essential to helping businesses grow and to make Michigan a more competitive state to attract jobs of the future.

“The vast majority of good paying jobs continue to require at least some education beyond high school,” said Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Director Jeff Donofrio. “Futures for Frontliners gives those who helped save lives and kept our communities operating during the height of COVID an opportunity to increase their skills and income and helps us close the state’s skills gap. For Michigan’s economy to recover and grow, its critical we continue to provide expanded opportunities to all.”

Over 109,000 cases of the coronavirus have been reported in Michigan as of Thursday. The virus has also been attributed with the death of more than 6,500 state residents.