Building a career isn’t about just finding a job — it’s about finding the right job. One that pays a living wage, aligns with a job seeker’s skills and offers real opportunities for growth. Navigating career options and training opportunities can feel like a maze without a map when local job markets vary dramatically from one place to the next, especially for workers without a four-year degree.
That’s why SkillUp has adopted a national-local strategy — tailoring career pathways to specific regional economies and meeting individuals skilled through alternative routes (STARs) where they already work and live. We build each localized platform using real-time labor market intelligence and community partnerships to connect job seekers with in-demand careers, training programs and job opportunities. Today, we are live in 30 regions, including both the top 25 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and smaller, more rural markets, with plans to expand to the top 40 MSAs in 2025. No matter the size of the community, this local-first approach ensures that workers have access to opportunities that align with their region’s workforce needs and economic realities.
West Michigan, for example, is connecting job seekers with real opportunities that align with the region’s unique workforce needs through SkillUp’s platform.
Building Career Pathways in West Michigan
The economy in West Michigan is driven by healthcare, skilled trades, technology and manufacturing, yet many workers struggle to access high-quality jobs and training that offer real career mobility. Our SkillUp West Michigan platform is designed to change that.
Through the West Michigan site, STARs can explore 18 high-demand occupations across business, healthcare, skilled trades, technology and transportation, from HVAC technicians and electricians to software developers and dental assistants. Each job pathway is validated against Michigan labor market standards, SkillUp quality standards and connected to affordable, short-term training programs — many of which are below $5,000 or completely FREE. Examples of these local training programs include:
- West Michigan Electrical JATC in Coopersville, MI offers a free Electrician Apprenticeship program for individuals 17 and up and holding a high school diploma (or equivalent).
- Grand Rapids Community College in Grand Rapids, MI offers a 12-month Practical Nursing Certificate with a mixture of classroom, instruction and clinical lab work.
- Kalamazoo Valley Community College in Kalamazoo, MI offers a 4-month Cisco Certification teaching individuals network installation, configuration and troubleshooting.
“For too many workers, navigating career options feels like a moving target. But job seekers shouldn’t have to take a leap of faith when choosing a career — they need real data and real support that reflect the economic reality of their region. That’s why we don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach,” said Lauren Dietz, Senior Director, Strategy & Operations, SkillUp Coalition. “In West Michigan, we’re embedding SkillUp’s platform directly into the local workforce ecosystem, ensuring that STARs have access to jobs and training that actually align with the opportunities already available and needed where they live.”
The game changer in West Michigan is the collaborative approach — the region already has a solid network of organizations dedicated to advancing economic mobility.
The Literacy Center of West Michigan plays a key role in ensuring that local workers receive direct, human-centered support in their career journeys. From career coaching and workforce training navigation to adult education services, this boots-on-the-ground approach bridges the gap between digital career tools and real-world access to opportunity.
“By recognizing the multiple responsibilities and limited time and resources that adults face, we are able to successfully design relevant and achievable programs that work for more than 1,300 adult learners every year,” said Wendy V. Falb, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Literacy Center of West Michigan. “SkillUp’s focus on connecting job seekers to high-quality training that provides low risk and high gains aligns directly with everything we have learned about best-practice adult education.”
Why Local Investment Matters
West Michigan is just one example of how our local strategy reshapes career access at scale. By bringing regionalized career tools and resources to the largest markets across the U.S., we work to close the gap between STARs and sustainable careers.
This approach ensures that workers aren’t left to navigate a fragmented system on their own and instead have access to:
- Local career and training resources tailored to high-growth industries in their area.
- Strategic partnerships with community organizations that provide on-the-ground support.
- Skills-first job matching that connects STARs to living-wage careers without degree barriers.
“We’re not just expanding for the sake of scale,” said Dietz. “Our goal is to make sure that in every region we serve, workers have access to high-quality career pathways that actually make sense for their lives.”
What’s Next?
With an ambitious goal of launching in 15 more regions in 2025, we are laser-focused on scaling local workforce solutions that work. Whether through digital tools, community-based partnerships or employer engagement, our mission remains the same: ensure that every worker has the resources they need to build a better future.
For job seekers in West Michigan, our localized platform is already making that vision a reality.
🔗 Explore the SkillUp West Michigan platform: https://explore.skillup.org/west-michigan/my-path
🔗 Discover West Michigan-specific resources: https://explore.skillup.org/west-michigan/resources
