When Nate Vander Zwaag first connected with West Michigan Works! through a fellow contractor, he was looking for ways to strengthen his company’s workforce. What he found was a long-term strategy to strengthen Macatawa Plumbing’s apprenticeship program and invest more intentionally in his team.
A friend who operates an electrical contracting business in Grand Rapids shared his positive experience with West Michigan Works! and connected Vander Zwaag with Business Solutions Representative Brandon Dellaposta. That introduction led to a partnership centered on the Michigan Going PRO Talent Fund. The program provides competitive grants that help Michigan employers address skill gaps by supporting classroom instruction, on-the-job training and registered apprenticeship programs that lead to continued or full-time employment.
“After communicating with Brandon, we were able to identify areas to improve our workforce and utilize grant programs to do so, like the Going PRO Talent Fund,” Vander Zwaag said. “Brandon walked me through the entire process, helping us first apply in cycle 2 of 2024.”
Over the past two years, Macatawa Plumbing has applied for three Going PRO Talent Fund grants and received awards twice. The competitive state program supports employer-based training in high-demand industries, including the skilled trades.
For Macatawa Plumbing, the funding has helped offset training costs, expand technical instruction and strengthen its Registered Apprenticeship Program. While the company has maintained a steady workforce of approximately 25 to 27 full-time employees in recent years, Vander Zwaag said the support has positioned the business for sustainable growth.
“Going PRO Talent Fund has allowed us to hire more apprentices by offsetting training costs and easing the overall training burden,” he said. “As a result, we’ve been able to expand access to technical training opportunities and further invest in the development of our workforce.”
Macatawa Plumbing’s experience reflects a broader statewide trend. In 2024, Michigan recorded 20,600 active registered apprentices, the highest number in state history. According to the Registered Apprenticeships in Michigan – 2025 Report, 8,400 new apprentices were added last year, reflecting growing employer confidence in the earn-and-learn model. Youth ages 16 to 24 now represent more than 40% of all active apprentices statewide.
West Michigan Works! leaders say apprenticeship growth is a key strategy in addressing talent shortages while creating long-term career pathways.
“Programs like the Going PRO Talent Fund are designed to help employers grow their own talent,” said Joel Elsenbroek, project manager, apprenticeships, West Michigan Works!. “By offsetting training costs, we can help businesses invest confidently in apprentices and build rewarding, sustaining careers in high-demand fields.”
The long-term outcomes reinforce that investment. Among those who completed registered apprenticeship programs in 2022, 94% were employed one year later, earning a median annual wage of $80,720, according to the 2025 report.
Established in 2000, Macatawa Plumbing built its reputation on quality and strong employee retention, outcomes Vander Zwaag said are reinforced by the company’s focus on education and career development.
“The Going PRO Talent Fund has given me a different perspective on our apprenticeship program, especially in recognizing the increased value of the skilled trades education we are providing,” he said. “It has elevated both our outlook and our pride in the educational impact of our company and the skilled trades industry as a whole.”
West Michigan Works! connects employers with the tools, strategies, support and funding resources needed to launch or scale apprenticeship programs.
“When employers strengthen their apprenticeship programs, it benefits the entire community,” said Elsenbroek. “We’re seeing more young people choose the skilled trades as a viable and respected career path and that momentum is critical for West Michigan’s long-term economic vitality.”
Cycle 2 of the 2026 GPTF is expected to open in spring 2026. For more information about employer services and the Going PRO Talent Fund, visit our link below.
