Michigan Central is working to improve opportunities for startups based in Southeast Michigan through its Talent Innovation Training Fund (TITF). This program offers operational support and funding to startups in various fields, including tech, robotics, drones, health sciences, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, mobility, and artificial intelligence. The goal is to help these companies hire new local workers, particularly individuals who do not hold four-year degrees, and equip them with essential skills.
Participating startups receive $10,000 per new hire for credentialed training or $5,000 for on-the-job training. A key requirement for companies in the program is a commitment to pay new hires at least $21.76 an hour, aligning with Detroit’s livable wage standard. Myka Burley, Michigan Central’s Associate Director of Talent Development and Programming, emphasized that while personality is crucial, providing the right person with the correct skill set can create the "perfect hire."
The TITF aims to develop a qualified workforce for startups while providing residents of Southeastern Michigan with access to careers in technology and innovation that they might otherwise overlook. The program had its first iteration in 2025 and launched its second phase this fall. Applications for startups for the TITF closed at the end of July, with applications for talent interested in participating slated to open soon.
GeoPrime Energy, a renewable energy firm that develops infrastructure for industrial facilities and municipalities, participated in the TITF's first phase. Ademola Fagade, CEO of GeoPrime Energy and a Detroit Board of Water Commissioner, started his company in 2022. Before the TITF, GeoPrime Energy had three staff members and four consultants; the company now employs 11 people. During its participation, GeoPrime Energy received training consultation from Google, which assisted the company in developing processes for screening and recruiting employees. The firm is also participating in the program's second phase.
Fagade noted that the program encouraged his company and others to "think outside the box and be creative as to how we welcome people into the organization, train them, and mentor them." He highlighted the value of understanding that it is possible to hire from underserved communities and provide training that creates an impact beyond the individual organization. For the second phase, Fagade hopes to offer more hands-on training with engineering, procurement, and construction firms, known as EPCs, pairing their engineers with his own to ensure skills are passed down to younger workers.
The TITF is structured with two tracks. The early stage track supports newer startups with one to 10 employees, offering human resources and onboarding support, along with on-the-job training tools and curriculum templates. Companies on this track receive one-on-one consulting from human relations experts at the Southeastern Michigan Community Alliance. Burley explained that many startup founders excel at technology but may need support in business creation, making the HR infrastructure component vital.
Established companies with more than 10 employees, which are looking to hire niche talent, receive similar support and funding. Additionally, these companies benefit from connections within Michigan Central’s innovation ecosystem to help them find workers with unique skills. The fund is part of a year-long series focusing on programs and pathways to good-paying jobs and careers in Detroit.
