This column originally appeared in The Alpena News on June 9, 2021.
According to 2019 census data, on average, fewer than 29% of Alpena, Alcona, Montmorency and Presque Isle county residents have an associate, bachelor’s or graduate or professional degree. While there are certainly a variety of educational and professional paths in life, the Michigan League for Public Policy wants to make sure the decision on whether or not to go to college is a personal one, not a financial one.
But in too many cases in Northeast Michigan and around the state, the cost of a higher education is the primary barrier preventing people from pursuing their true dreams.
Michigan university tuition is very high, with our state having the third highest public university tuition in the nation. Michigan ranks dead last nationally, in dollars per student, among the states in providing financial aid for attendance at a public community college or university. At the same time, many workers making lower wages have a difficult time finding employment providing higher pay and more job security–often due to lack of a postsecondary degree, certificate or license.
Luckily, there are programs in place that have helped make college more affordable for older workers: Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners. The continuation of and additional funding for these successful programs is being negotiated as part of the state budget and federal COVID relief negotiations happening right now.
Michigan Reconnect provides two years of free training or community college for students 25 or older. It was passed in March 2020 with bipartisan support just days prior to the COVID-19 pandemic hitting, and was ultimately funded in the 2021 state budget. Last month, the state announced that 70,000 Michigan Reconnect applicants are set to receive a tuition-free associate degree or skills certificate.
Futures for Frontliners was established by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer a year ago to provide a tuition-free pathway to college or a technical certificate to essential workers who don’t have a college degree. This includes many of the workers we have relied on personally and as a state to get through the pandemic, like hospital workers, grocery store clerks and stockers, child care providers, custodial and sanitation workers and more. Within the Sept. 10-Dec. 31 application period, more than 120,000 frontline workers applied for Futures for Frontliners.
These programs have helped bring new hope for so many Michigan residents. But. despite the hope and opportunity they have provided during these trying times, the fate of Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners are both up in the air right now.
The governor included significant funding for Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners in her initial 2022 budget proposal. But in the legislative budget bills that have passed so far, the Senate included the current funding levels of $30 million for each program. The Michigan House of Representatives did not include any funding for either Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners, essentially eliminating them.
The 2022 budget legislation is currently being negotiated between the governor and legislature. Gov. Whitmer has doubled-down her support for these programs, calling for $120 million for Michigan Reconnect and $60 million for Futures for Frontliners in her Michigan Economic Jumpstart Plan that she announced last week. The governor sees both of these programs as vital support for Michigan residents and key to reaching her goal of increasing the number of working-age adults with a skill certificate or college degree from 49% today to 60% by 2030.
Increasing the skill levels of workers is good for Michigan’s economy and making college more affordable can decrease inequities in educational level based on race and ethnicity. The Republican-led Legislature has supported Michigan Reconnect before, and the enrollment numbers and personal stories of enrollees show that Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners and the opportunities they provide resonate around the state. We hope that as budget negotiations continue, policymakers place a priority on opening doors to a higher education or skilled trade.
More information, including real stories of real people who have enrolled in these programs, can be found at michigan.gov/reconnect and michigan.gov/frontliners.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
