Our History of Education and Talent Leadership

Since 1988, the Detroit Regional Chamber has been a leader in education and talent development, building the most robust and comprehensive business-led portfolio of education and talent programs in Michigan.

Many of the Chamber’s signature education and talent initiatives – achieving 60% post-high school educational attainment by 2030, Detroit Promise Scholarship, Detroit Reconnect – all served as precursors to similar statewide programs. They demonstrate how the Chamber’s work with business, higher education, and philanthropy offers the best path forward to increase educational attainment, strengthen the talent pipeline, and grow the talent pool. They also demonstrate that education and talent work requires a long-term commitment across decades and elections.

The below timeline demonstrates the Chamber’s leadership and how it is positioned to identify, develop, and scale programs that are needed to develop tomorrow’s talent today.

2024

The Rocket Community Fund, Detroit Regional Chamber, and Last Mile Education Fund announce an expansion of the Detroit Area Talent Fund. It provides qualified college and post-high school students with emergency financial assistance to overcome unexpected obstacles disrupting their educational progress.

2022

Chamber creates employer engagement department to support employers in creating and scaling talent development and upskilling initiatives for their workers.

2021

Chamber successfully advocates for Michigan Reconnect, which would be expanded less than three years later.

2020

• Chamber launches Detroit Reconnect to help adults return to higher education.
• It also launches the Detroit Regional Talent Compact to bring together the Region to achieve the 60% educational attainment goal and cut the racial equity gap in half by 2030.

2018

• Chamber announces Talent Hub, a collaboration to re-engage the Region’s 690,000 adults with college experience but no degree, at Mackinac Policy Conference.
• Detroit Promise starts to receive funding from property tax capture.

2017

• Chamber launches Detroit Drives Degrees, a collective impact initiative that brings together stakeholders from business, philanthropy, government, and K-12 and higher education.
• Detroit Promise Scholarship expanded to include four-year degrees.

2016

• Chamber creates the Detroit Promise Path to help more Detroiters graduate with two- and four-year degrees.
• Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announces the Detroit Promise Zone Authority, the dedication of property tax dollars to fund the Detroit Promise scholarship.

2015

• Detroit Regional Chamber sets goals of achieving 60% educational attainment and cut racial equity gap in half by 2030.
• The Chamber establishes its own standalone department with the announcement of Greg Handel as Vice President of Education and Talent.

2011

Gov. Rick Snyder announces the intention to provide Detroit high school graduates a tuition-free path to an associate degree or technical certificates.

2009

Gov. Jennifer Granholm creates 10 Promise Zone communities in cities with high poverty rates.

1988

The Detroit Compact Scholarship is created and managed by the Detroit Regional Chamber.