WHY IT MATTERS
THE TALENT GAP IN NORTHWEST MICHIGAN
Finding skilled, motivated talent is one of the single biggest challenges facing local business leaders today. Incredible career opportunities exist right here in Northwest Michigan, yet many of our young people simply do not know they exist.
When students cannot see a clear path from their classroom to a rewarding local job, they leave. Our communities lose vital future workforce talent to other regions, while local employers struggle to fill essential roles.
Your sponsorship changes that narrative. By partnering with MiCareerQuest Northwest, you directly bridge this gap, giving local students early, hands-on exposure to high-demand careers while positioning your company at the front of our region’s future talent pipeline.
THE SOLUTION
INVEST IN CAREER EXPLORATION
MiCareerQuest Northwest is the premier hands-on career exploration event in our region. It is a collaborative movement uniting schools, employers, higher education institutions, and community partners.
Each year, we bring together nearly 2,000 ninth-grade students from dozens of school districts across Northwest Michigan to connect directly with working professionals.
Instead of just reading a brochure or watching a video, students touch, build, operate, and experience what it actually means to work in today’s top industries. These direct conversations spark early career interests, helping students choose relevant high school courses and set meaningful goals for life after graduation.
THE DATA SPEAKS
- 92%+
of exhibitors plan to participate again due to high student engagement. - 91%+
of educators strongly agree the event meets essential school career readiness goals. - 90%+
of students reported learning about new regional careers they didn’t know existed.
HOW IT WORKS
REAL VALUE FOR YOUR INVESTMENT
Sponsors are true partners in making these vital connections possible. Your support creates impact long before event day and extends far into our region’s economic future:
Behind-the-Scenes Access
In the months leading up to the event, sponsors receive regular updates as local schools sign up, event signage takes shape, and as the final exhibitor lineup comes together.
VIP Experience
Sponsors receive exclusive invitations to the VIP Tour on event day. You will walk the floor, observe active student engagement, and see your investment working in real time.
Pipeline Building
Showcase your industry, meet future workers early, and build direct brand awareness with tomorrow’s workforce.
PROVEN IMPACT
Networks Northwest and Northwest Michigan Works! have a proven track record of bringing reional partners together to build stronger workforce pipelines.
“I liked being able to see people very passionate about their jobs, and happy to educate people about what they do.”
- 2026 MiCareerQuest Student
“Thank you so much for putting this on! We are trying to be more intentional with our Career Counseling and this is a very useful too!!”
- 2026 MiCareerQuest School Administrator
“I hear it all the time from our business, volunteers, and education partners: ‘I wish I’d had an event like this when I was a student.’ Many of them lost years and thousands of dollars finding their way. MiCareerQuest gives students that clarity now, so they can see and experience the opportunities right here in Northern Michigan.”
- 2026 MiCareerQuest Admin Team Member
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
PARTNER WITH US TODAY
Your sponsorship directly empowers local youth while securing your future workforce. Join us in shaping the next generation of Northwest Michigan’s talent.
To discuss sponsorship involvement, please contact:
Rob Dickinson, CBSP (he/him)
Regional Director of Business Services
Northwest Michigan Works!
231.357.5082
Contact Form
LYDIA’S STORY: FROM UNCERTAIN PATH TO PURPOSEFUL CAREER
"Lydia loved math, solving problems, and fast cars. But in high school, no one helped her connect those passions to real local careers. She spent years in college trying different majors, only to graduate into an entry-level job three states away that didn’t match her degree or her true potential.
What if Lydia had experienced a “day in the life” of an engineer while still in high school? What if she had met local professionals, operated equipment, and discovered that her dream job was right here in Northwest Michigan? Early career exploration gives young people the experiences they need to make smarter choices—saving time, reducing costly educational detours, and keeping local talent local."