LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) —After decades of driving the auto industry, Michigan’s turning its gears toward shipbuilding.

The state has secured an $8 million federal grant to train workers for high-wage jobs in shipbuilding and maritime manufacturing, according to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO).

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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and LEO announced the funding, which comes from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund. Specifically, the grant aims to revive Michigan’s maritime sector by expanding training in welding, marine electrical, and other skilled trades.

“Michigan’s maritime strength comes from the Great Lakes we share,” Whitmer said. “As a state with a proud legacy in automotive and defense manufacturing, … this funding will help us build on that legacy.”

According to LEO Director Susan Corbin, the grant could train as many as 720 workers for jobs in Michigan’s growing maritime sector. The state will also invest $3.6 million in matching funds through the Make It In Michigan Competitiveness Fund to expand training capacity.

An employer-led coalition of manufacturers, educators, and training providers will guide the effort, identifying workforce gaps and connecting laid-off manufacturing workers to new opportunities in shipbuilding.

The initiative will also explore apprenticeships and AI-driven training models to accelerate learning and keep Michigan’s roughly 300 shipbuilding suppliers globally competitive.