LANSING, MI — The Michigan Higher Education Attainment Roundtable (MIHEART) is pleased to announce the addition of four key organizations: the Michigan Works! Association (MWA), Launch Michigan, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), and the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM). These new member organizations underscore a unified commitment across workforce development, K-12 education, higher education, economic development, and the small business community to advance progress towards the state’s Sixty by 30 attainment goal — 60% of Michigan residents earning a postsecondary certificate or degree by the year 2030.

Convened by Michigan College Access Network, MIHEART is a cross-sector collaborative focused on developing, attracting, and retaining workforce talent in Michigan. The cornerstone of MIHEART’s work revolves around its 2025-26 Talent Sustainability Agenda, which outlines ten key policy priorities and strategies designed to increase access to and completion of postsecondary education, address equity gaps, and strengthen the state’s talent ecosystem.

“We are thrilled to welcome these four highly respected organizations to MIHEART,” said Ryan Fewins-Bliss, MCAN executive director. “Their combined expertise and reach within their sectors will be instrumental as we redouble our efforts to achieve Sixty by 30. This collaborative approach is precisely what Michigan needs to build a robust talent pipeline and help secure a prosperous future for all its residents.”

The inclusion of these organizations highlights a growing recognition that achieving Michigan’s ambitious goals will require a comprehensive, cross-sector, and cross-partisan approach.

§ Michigan Works! Association brings critical insights into workforce needs and pathways, ensuring that postsecondary education aligns with in-demand jobs.

§ Launch Michigan reinforces MIHEART’s connection between K-12 education and postsecondary success, advocating for policies, such as a college and career standard, to prepare students for future opportunities.

§ Michigan Economic Development Corporation emphasizes the economic imperative of a highly skilled workforce for business growth and attraction and plays a key role in attracting and retaining talent in Michigan, particularly through initiatives that connect postsecondary education with industry needs.

§ Small Business Association of Michigan represents the voice of 33,000 entrepreneurs across Michigan and highlights their talent needs, such as supporting Michigan’s Going PRO program and the expansion of Michigan’s Reconnect program to encourage up-skilling and developing tomorrow’s workforce.

The expanded coalition will continue to champion and advocate for policies and investments that will drive Michigan closer to Sixty by 30. You can learn more about MIHEART, including a full list of its member organizations, at micollegeaccess.org/advocacy/miheart.

About the Michigan Higher Education Attainment Roundtable (MIHEART): The Michigan Higher Education Attainment Roundtable (MIHEART) is a collaborative of business, nonprofit, philanthropy, PK–12 education, higher education, and government leaders committed to increasing the number of working-age adults in Michigan who earn a skill certificate or college degree to 60% by 2030 (Sixty by 30). MIHEART promotes, advocates for, and leads policy changes that will generate improved postsecondary education and credential attainment levels in Michigan.

ABOUT MICHIGAN COLLEGE ACCESS NETWORK (MCAN)

As the leader in the state’s college access movement, MCAN works to improve the futures of Michigan’s students and communities by making college accessible to all. MCAN’s work centers on one main goal: To increase Michigan’s postsecondary educational attainment rate to 60% by 2030. MCAN engages partners statewide who are committed to systems-level change and the reduction of barriers to increase college readiness, participation and completion rates, particularly among low-income students, first-generation college-going students, and students of color. MCAN has helped Michigan’s postsecondary attainment rate increase for the 10th consecutive year. For more information, visit micollegeaccess.org.