A History in Michigan – Berrien Connection

Our History

The Michigan Workforce Development Institute’s roots go back to 1988 when the Michigan State AFL-CIO LEAD program was incorporated as a private non-profit corporation. A few years later, the name changed to the Michigan State AFL-CIO Human Resources Development Inc. In 2020, it changed again to the Michigan Workforce Development Institute.

1977

The Michigan State AFL-CIO establishes the Labor Employment and Development (LEAD) Program to provide technical assistance to employment and training program operators and labor organizations on issues related to the labor standards and organized labor involvement mandated by the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA).

1988

The Michigan State AFL-CIO LEAD program was incorporated as a private non-proﬁt corporation, Michigan State AFL-CIO LEAD Inc., in order to better pursue state and federal grant dollars to support the mission.

1990

LEAD Inc. is renamed as Michigan State AFL-CIO Human Resources Development Inc (M-HRDi) and focuses on providing employment and training services to displaced workers and economically-disadvantaged adults and welfare recipients.

Today

What’s never changed is our mission. Since the beginning, we’ve focused on providing employment and training services to displaced workers and economically-disadvantaged adults to assist them with improving their lives and to help grow Michigan’s economy.