September 5, 2024
New Low for 3rd Grade Reading Shows Why We’re Taking Action
Six out of 10 fourth graders in Michigan went back to school this year unprepared to read at grade level.In...
3/4
Illuminate. Evaluate. Advocate.
TalentFirst is a catalyst working to ensure an ongoing supply of world-class talent for West Michigan. Composed of over 100 CEOs from the region, TalentFirst illuminates gaps, evaluates leading practices, and advocates for the implementation of those leading practices to make West Michigan a top 20% employment region.
Unmatched Collaboration for Regional Impact
TalentFirst serves 13 counties in West Michigan, engaging the industries, businesses, and nonprofit and educational institutions of each county. We chose this region — Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola and Ottawa counties — because it provides the talent pool from which local employers employ 83.6 percent of their workforce. We convene stakeholders from across sectors and facilitate efficient and effective collaboration.
Our Working Groups:
Where collaboration drives solutions
Ensure children have access to quality childcare and preschool that prepares them to enter kindergarten at…
Increase academic and college and career readiness measures and advocate for schools to adopt…
The Postsecondary Education Working Group aims to increase the number of students graduating from West…
The Workforce Development Working Group aims to create a best-in-class workforce system to engage and…
The Workforce Analytics Working Group aims to advance alignment across West Michigan’s talent…
Significantly reduce the racial and ethnic disparities in labor force participation, employment, and…
TalentFirst will be recognized as one of the most trusted resources for talent solutions among West Michigan…
Our Members
TalentFirst’s membership represents an array of the region’s business, educational, and civic leaders — a group as diverse as the region we serve. Together, they are a powerful force for meeting the talent demand of today and tomorrow.
Our Insights
- September 5, 2024
Six out of 10 fourth graders in Michigan went back to school this year unprepared to read at grade level. In announcing the results from...
- September 4, 2024
As students head back to school across Michigan, too many classrooms will have empty seats and too many young learners will not be present when...
- August 27, 2024
Note: In advance of our next Talent Solutions Series event, Expand Talent Pipelines | Embracing Neurodiversity @ Work on Oct. 1, we will be sharing...