Appropriations Requests for : West Michigan Construction Institute

1. Cosponsoring legislators:

No Cosponsors

Recipient Information

2. Intended legislatively directed spending item recipient:

West Michigan Construction Institute

3. Physical address of legislatively directed spending item recipient and the intended location of the project or activity:

801 Century Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

4. The recipient's employer identification number:

352679576

Funding Details

5. Requested amount of the legislatively directed spending item:

$500,000.00

6. What is the purpose and how does the legislatively directed spending item provide a public benefit that is an appropriate use of taxpayer money?

The West Michigan Construction Institute (WMCI) prepares high school students and adult learners for high-demand careers in the skilled trades, careers that are essential to Michigan’s economic growth, infrastructure development, and housing supply. The construction industry continues to face a significant workforce shortage as experienced workers retire, and fewer young people enter the trades. WMCI directly addresses this challenge by providing hands-on training that leads to industry credentials, apprenticeships, and family-sustaining careers. WMCI recently received, through a private philanthropic gift, the property adjacent to our current campus. This gift creates a unique opportunity to expand training capacity without requiring the State of Michigan to fund land acquisition. Legislative support will allow WMCI to advance the design and planning work necessary for a Phase III campus expansion that will significantly increase the number of students we can serve. Demand for WMCI programs is growing rapidly. This academic year, WMCI launched a new electrical training program for adult students and welcomed more than 200 additional apprentices, placing significant pressure on our current lab spaces and equipment capacity. State investment would allow WMCI to equip expanded electrical training labs and other technical learning environments needed to support this growth. Funding would also support strategic enrollment and outreach efforts to ensure that students and employers across West Michigan are aware of the training opportunities available through WMCI. These efforts help connect individuals, including career changers and recent graduates, to high-wage construction careers while helping Michigan contractors address critical workforce shortages. An investment in WMCI represents a high return for taxpayers. Graduates move quickly into employment in Michigan’s construction industry, earning family-supporting wages while contributing to the state’s economy and tax base. By expanding WMCI’s capacity and visibility, this funding will help ensure that Michigan has the skilled workforce necessary to build homes, infrastructure, and commercial projects across the state for decades to come.

7. Has the legislatively directed spending item previously received or been awarded any of the following types of funding in the past 5 years?

✓ Yes: Federal Funding

✓ Yes: Local Funding

Amount received: $4,000,000.00

8. Estimated time frame for completion of the legislatively directed spending item project:

Fiscal year 2027

Additional Information For Nonprofit Corporations

9. Is the recipient a nonprofit corporation?

Yes

4. Officers and active members on the board of directors:

Josh Lester, Board Chairman | Tim Koster, Board Secretary/Treasurer | Jerry Cardinal, Director | Steve Longstreet, Director | Brian Potter, Director | Matt Fennema, Director | Bev Thiel, Director | Tony Roussey, Director | Jeff Malloch, Director

Certification By Sponsoring Legislator

• "I certify that my immediate family members, legislative staff members, and I have no direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the requested legislatively directed spending item."
• "I certify that the intended recipient of this legislatively directed spending item is not a for-profit entity."
• "I certify that the information in this form is true to the best of my knowledge."

Senator Mark E Huizenga