Futures for Frontliners

During Michigan’s shutdown in spring of 2020 due to the COVID-19, many residents had to put their health and lives on the line working in industries that were critical to keeping our state running. Those frontline workers worked in a job that required them to work outside of their home, putting themselves at risk of exposure. Examples of those industries are listed below. If you’re not sure if your job is eligible, you can call 517-636-7000.

• Chemical supply chains and safety
• Chemical plants
• Laboratories
• Distribution facilities
• Communications and information technology (IT), including news media
• News media
• Telecom companies (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile)
• Command centers
• Client service centers
• Distribution facilities
• Critical manufacturing
• Manufacturing plants
• Processing plants
• Defense industrial base
• Defense contractors
• IT workers
• Security staff and personnel
• Energy
• Mining companies, production facilities or power plants
• Distribution facilities
• On- or off-shore drilling or renewable energy companies
• Financial services
• Banks
• Non-bank financial or lending companies
• Call centers
• Accounting firms
• Food and agriculture
• Grocery stores or convenience stores
• Restaurants
• Farms or ranches
• Diesel/ethanol facilities, storage facilities, or sawmills
• Distribution facilities
• Laboratories
• Hazardous materials
• Health care and public health
• Clinics
• Hospitals
• Long-term care facilities
• In home care
• Vendors/suppliers/retail facilities for hygiene products and medical goods, supplies, and materials
• Cleaning and waste management facilities, including hazardous waste
• Law enforcement, public safety, and first responders
• Police or fire stations
• Prisons
• Security companies
• Distribution facilities developing or supplying safety equipment and/or uniforms for all public safety personnel
• Vendors or suppliers who maintain and provide services and supplies to public safety facilities
• Other community-based government operations and essential functions
• Local government
• State government
• Public education, including K-12 and higher education 
• Zoos or aquariums
• Permitting, licensing, or credentialing offices for essential workers and their operations
• Public works
• Landfill operations
• Dam engineering/inspection companies
• Construction companies
• Structural and bridge inspection companies
• Maintenance companies
• Transportation and logistics
• Warehouse workers
• Transit companies
• Transportation repair shops/companies
• Taxi or ride-sharing companies
• Driving training and education centers
• Towing and recovery or roadside assistance companies
• Water and wastewater
• Wastewater treatment or collection facilities
• Community water system companies/facilities
• Water distribution and testing facilities
• Additional critical infrastructure workers
• Wastewater treatment or collection facilities
• Community water system companies/facilities
• Water distribution and testing facilities

Identified by Governor Whitmer in Executive Orders 2020-21 and 2020-70:

• Workers providing childcare for other critical infrastructure workers, including workers at disaster relief childcare centers
• Workers at suppliers, distribution centers or service providers
• Workers in the insurance industry unable to work remotely
• Workers for businesses or operations that provide minimum basic needs to the economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals, individuals who need assistance as a result of COVID-19 and people with disabilities
• Workers critical to labor union functions unable to work remotely
• Workers at retail stores selling groceries, medical supplies, and products necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and basic operation of residences or motor vehicles, including convenience stores, pet supply stores, auto supplies and repair stores, hardware and home maintenance stores, and home appliance retailers
• Workers at laundromats, coin laundries and dry cleaners
• Workers for garden stores, nurseries, lawn care, pest control and landscaping operations
• Workers at motor vehicle dealerships or deliver motor vehicles to customers
• Workers at hotels and motels
• Maintenance workers and groundskeepers
• Workers for moving or storage operations

Accounting Certificate

Administrative Office Specialist Certificate

Automotive Engineering Technology Certificate

Automotive Service Technology Certificate

Computer Information Systems: App Development Certificate

Computer Information Systems: System Administration Specialist Certificate

Computer Information Systems: PC Support Technician Certificate

Construction Management Technology: Heavy and Industrial Certificate Criminal Justice Certificate

Construction Management Technology: Residential and Light Commercial Certificate

Criminal Justice Certificate

Culinary Skills and Management Certificate

Cybersecurity and Information Assurance Certificate

Early Childhood Education Certificate

Graphic Design: Digital Media Certificate

Graphic Design: Illustration Certificate

Graphic Design: Web Design Certificate

Mechanical Design Technology Certificate

Metrology Technology Certificate

Practical Nursing Certificate

Product and Process Technology: CAD/CAM Technician Certificate

Product and Process Technology: CNC Technician Certificate

Quality Technology Certificate

Solar Energy Certificate

Web Design – Basic Certificate

Welding Technology: Advanced Certificate

Wind Energy Certificate

Accounting

Automotive Engineering Technology

Automotive Service Technology

Business Management

Computer Information Systems: Accounting

Computer Information Systems: App Development

Computer Information Systems: Computer Science

Computer Information Systems: Cybersecurity and Information Assurance

Computer Information Systems: Office Professional

Computer Information Systems: PC Support Technician

Computer Information Systems: System Administration Specialist

Construction Management Technology

Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement

Early Childhood Education

Electrical Engineering Technology

Fine Arts

Game Design and Development

General Technology

Graphic Design

Graphic Design: Digital Media

Graphic Design: Illustration

Graphic Design: Interaction Design

Manufacturing Technology

Mechanical Design Technology

Mechanical Engineering Technology

Nuclear Engineering Technology

Nursing, Registered

PN to RN Program Option

Respiratory Therapy

Teacher Paraprofessional (Elementary Education)

Welding Technology

Are there credit hour requirements for Futures for Frontliners funding?

Yes. Students who receive Futures for Frontliners funding must take six credit hours each semester to receive the funding. 

What is the GPA requirement?

Students need to maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average since the start of receiving Futures for Frontliners funding.

Do I need to apply for financial aid?

Yes. In order to receive Futures for Frontliners funding, students must have a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid on file for the correct academic year. For the Fall 2022 semester, a 2022-2023 FAFSA is needed. 

What costs does Futures for Frontliners cover?

The program covers Monroe County-resident tuition for billable contact hours, as well as registration and technology fees.

What costs does Futures for Frontliners not cover?

It does not cover lab fees, course fees, books and supplies.

If I live outside Monroe County, can I still take advantage of Futures for Frontliners Funding at MCCC?

Yes, but the program will not cover the difference between in-country tuition and out-of-county tuition. 

GPA Requirement:

Students need to maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average since the start of receiving F4F funding. The cumulative 2.0 GPA is calculated at the end of each 12-month period of enrollment. The first 12-month period begins at the start of the student's first semester as an F4F participant in which they are enrolled at least 6 credit hours. If the student does not meet this eligibility requirement they will permanently lose the ability to participate in the F4F program.

Continuous Enrollment Requirement:

In addition to being enrolled at least half-time (6 or more credit hours), the Futures for Frontliners program requires that students attend at least two semesters within a twelve-month period. Students who do not meet these criteria lose their eligibility for the program. The credit hours you attend must apply towards your program of study at MCCC.

Leave of Absence Appeal:

We know that life and program availability sometimes disrupts college attendance. Due to this, there is an option for you to appeal the continuous enrollment requirement and request that you be allowed to continue as a Futures for Frontliners recipient. Students may request the Leave of Absence Appeal form through the Financial Aid Office.

Appeals will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Appeals may be granted for reinstatement or denied reinstatement.

Withdrawing from Classes:

For a student's first 12-month period receiving F4F funding, the scholarship will cover the tuition and mandatory fee costs of courses from which the student withdraws. From the second semester of a student's 2nd 12-month period and on, the tuition and mandatory fee costs of courses from which the student withdraws must be paid by the student.