Statewide statewide

Federal Grant Award Summary

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) received a $700,000 Formula Grant award dated September 11, 2025, under the Highway Planning and Construction program (CFDA 20.205), administered by the Federal Highway Administration. The grant supports a statewide recruitment, outreach, and career fairs initiative spanning October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. MDOT will develop and implement comprehensive strategies to build diverse and qualified applicant pools for transportation careers by increasing awareness of employment opportunities and fostering partnerships with educational institutions and community organizations.

The deliverables include recruitment best practices training for MDOT staff, modernization of application tracking systems, participation in career development events and workshops, and outreach targeting hard-to-fill positions. Specific activities encompass partnerships with organizations such as the National Summer Transportation Institute (up to $100,000), COMTO/City ($35,000), the National Society of Black Engineers Conference, MSU Women in Engineering Summer Camp, and various other educational and industry events. These coordinated efforts are designed to ensure candidates understand MDOT employment requirements and career pathways while strengthening the department's workforce pipeline across Michigan's transportation sector.

Project description

FY 2026 recruitment, outreach, and career fairs (10/1/2025-9/30/2026) - MDOT develops and utilizes strategies for achieving diverse and qualified applicant pools, which are designed to increase knowledge and awareness of transportation careers and encourage partnerships with educational institutions and community partners. Students, educational institutions, community partners, and the department benefit from these programs by facilitating awareness and preparing students for MDOT careers and partnering to provide learning and on-the-job training opportunities. IT ensures applicants are aware of the necessary education and experience requirements for department jobs and promotes close association with accredited colleges, universities, and technical/trade schools. Through career development, internal and external recruitment, outreach, career fairs, participation in workshops, and special events, candidates receive detailed employment information regarding MDOT careers and the transportation industry. To effectively accomplish candidate outreach, MDOT will train staff in recruitment best practices, modernize application tracking systems, and utilize emerging technology practices. Additionally, MDOT strives to reach out to candidates in hard-to-fill positions to ensure department goals are met and candidates are aware of all opportunities within MDOT. The following events are also expected to be included in recruitment, partnerships, outreach, and career fairs; although there may be additions or deletions to this list as opportunities arise: national summer transportation institute up to $100,000, comto/city - $35,000, national society of black engineers conference, recruitment consultant services, michigan construction, construction science fair/expo, michigan construction career days, Y-achievers, MSU women in engineering summer camp, washtenaw county expo, notre dame career fair, etc. Statewide