Michigan gets $52M federal grant to attract auto jobs and investments

LANSING, MI - The Detroit Regional Partnership and other partners secured a $52.2 million federal grant Friday, Sept. 3, to draw auto jobs and investments to southeast Michigan.

The coalition led by the Detroit Regional Partnership was one of 60 finalists nationwide for the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s $1 billion regional economic development competition. Funding between $25 and $65 million was awarded to 24 states to “execute transformational projects and revitalize local industries,” a news release said.

“The world is experiencing a once-in-a-century mobility revolution, and the Detroit region is poised to ensure the U.S. leads the way. The Global Epicenter of Mobility is designed to support mobility in every sense of the word, from the transition to autonomous and electric vehicles to social and economic mobility,” said a statement from Maureen Donohue Krauss, CEO of the Detroit Regional partnership.

In Michigan, the grant will be used to support six projects from five organizations under the Global Epicenter of Mobility:

• Detroit Regional Partnership will administer the grant. It will also use funding to increase site readiness to attract major investments.
• State of Michigan’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification will increase equitable access to the state’s testing and proving access.
• Southeast Michigan Community Alliance with MichiganWorks will work with companies to meet high-tech talent needs, offset retirement losses and support career advancement for communities that have historically been excluded.
• TechTown will help accelerate the growth of mobility startups.
• University of Michigan Economic Growth Institute will work with small- and medium-sized manufacturers transition to the electric vehicle market though a new Advanced Mobility Supply Chain Transformation Center.

“Together, we are building on our bipartisan economic development efforts, unique mobility and electrification initiatives, and continued, strong auto investments. This collaboration between the state and several local stakeholders led by the Detroit Regional Partnership will help us keep growing Michigan’s economy, creating good-paying jobs, and investing in every region of our state,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement.

Other state leaders, including Democratic U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters and U.S. Reps. Brenda Lawrence, D-Detroit; Debbie Dingell, D-Detroit; and Hayley Stevens, D-Rochester Hills, celebrated the investment alongside the coalition.

Grants were also awarded to Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.