Southeastern Michigan Chosen by Obama Administration for Manufacturing Stimulus Program

(Original article posted on 5/28/14 by Michael Wayland at MLive)

DETROIT, MI- The Obama administration today announced Southeastern Michigan will be one of the first regions to participate in a new program that plans to invest $1.3 billion to spur manufacturing jobs and private investments in the U.S.

Southeastern Michigan, according to a White House press release, is one of the first 12 communities that will be designated a “Manufacturing Community” as part of the administration’s “Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership” program, which launched last September.

According to the release, more than 70 communities applied to be a part of the program. To apply, each community developed economic development plans and showcased its “deep partnerships in place across the public and private sectors to carry out their plans.”

Eleven federal agencies with $1.3 billion in economic development funds will be able to use the communities’ plans to “make targeted investments in demonstrably strong public-private partnerships to strengthen regional manufacturing,” according to the release.

Each designated community will also receive a federal liaison and branding and promotion as a designated Manufacturing Community to help attract additional private investment and partnerships.

The Wayne County Economic Development Growth Engine, also known as EDGE, led the plans for Southeastern Michigan. The plan showcased the state’s strong manufacturing footprint, with emphasis on the automotive industry: “Thirteen counties in Southeastern Michigan, including the cities of Detroit, Flint, Lansing, Ann Arbor, and Pontiac, produce 22 percent of all vehicles made in America and at $14 billion a year, account for over 70% of total U.S. auto research investment,” reads the release.

Officials also mentioned the region “building on its strengths” to help develop connected vehicles that communicate with each other and with the road to carry their passengers more safely and efficiently to their destinations.

The other IMCP communities chosen were Southwest Alabama, Southern California, Northwest Georgia, Chicago metro region, South Kansas, Greater Portland region in Maine, New York Finger Lakes region, Southwestern Ohio Aerospace Region, Tennessee Valley, Washington Puget Sound region and Milwaukee 7 Region.

The expected investment for each community and other details were not immediately available. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker is scheduled to discuss the program in more detail at 2:30 p.m.

The first 12 communities are part of a multistage program for IMCP, according to the release. Later this year, the Obama administration plans to launch a second Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership competition to designate the next round of communities and convene the more than seventy communities that applied for the IMCP to share best practices in economic development planning and attracting new jobs and investment in manufacturing.

Check back to MLive for more details.

 

(Original article posted on 5/28/14 by Michael Wayland at MLive)