LEO Director outlines workforce investments, apprenticeship growth and digital access plan in FY26 budget pitch

The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s director, Susan Corbin, told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor and Economic Opportunity that Governor Whitmer’s proposed fiscal‑year 2026 budget would invest in workforce training, barrier removal and internet access to expand economic opportunity across Michigan.

Corbin said the governor’s recommended budget for LEO for fiscal years 2026‑27 includes $1.8 billion in ongoing funding, of which $239.5 million comes from the state’s general fund, and an $83.5 million one‑time general fund appropriation for FY2026. "The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity was created to make Michigan a place where all people, businesses, and communities have the economic means and personal freedoms to ... reach their full potential," Corbin said.

Corbin framed LEO as the state’s lead talent and workforce agency and described programs intended to connect residents with credentials, degrees and jobs. She said LEO passes federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds to local Michigan Works agencies and other local training providers, and that Michigan’s statewide workforce plan — adopted by the Michigan Workforce Development Board — has three pillars: supporting business growth through talent solutions, growing good‑paying jobs, and increasing educational…