Cooper Standard Builds Skilled Workforce Through Apprenticeship with Going PRO Talent Fund

Like many employers in Northern Michigan, Cooper Standard knows that hiring skilled trades employees can be a challenge. To address this, they partnered with Michigan Works! and applied for a Going PRO Talent Fund grant to create a Registered Apprenticeship program that develops talent from within, reducing the need to recruit outside the community — or even outside the state.

With Michigan Works!’ support, Cooper Standard secured $14,000 in funding. This allowed the company to enroll two existing employees in the apprenticeship program and hire two new apprentices to begin building their future skilled trades workforce.

Julie Hebron, Cooper Standard’s HR Manager, shares, “Having an apprenticeship program helps employees learn skills they might not gain otherwise and has led to substantial pay increases. Not everyone is cut out for college, so this provides another pathway for individuals to improve themselves and gain financial stability.”

The apprenticeship combines on-the-job training with classroom instruction, including NEC and Michigan Code Laws and GTAW Welding training through Kirtland Community College. Four Quality Operators enrolled in the program, with career paths tailored to their skills: two became Electrician Apprentices, one a Toolmaker Apprentice, and one a Machine Repair Apprentice.

The results speak for themselves: all four participants received significant wage increases, moving from $19–$20 per hour to $29–$35 per hour, while Cooper Standard strengthened its workforce and ensured a pipeline of skilled employees for the future.

By leveraging the Going PRO Talent Fund, Cooper Standard is not only investing in its employees but also building a sustainable talent pipeline that benefits both the company and the local community.