Senators Stabenow, Levin Announce Grant for Advance Michigan Manufacturing Community

Advance Michigan Manufacturing Community, a partnership of more than 30 organizations in the 13-county Southeast Michigan region, will receive $200,000 from the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow announced today. The funds will be used to develop long-term growth strategies for community investment and workforce development.

"Advance Michigan brings together Southeast Michigan's industries, universities, cities and counties in an initiative that builds on the region's strengths in automotive technology and manufacturing," Levin said. "This grant will help Advance Michigan continue its efforts to boost Michigan workers and the Michigan economy."

"Today's announcement is great news for Michigan workers and our economy," said Stabenow. "This investment will help our automotive technology and manufacturing industry develop and grow and ensure that we can continue to create high-tech, cutting-edge jobs and train our workers with the right skills to fill them."

In May, the Commerce Department selected Southeast Michigan as one of 12 communities nationwide to be part of the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership initiative, a federal program launched in 2013. The IMCP rewards communities for devising and instituting economic development plans that focus on manufacturing investment. The communities receive coordinated support from federal agencies to help implement their economic development plans.

Information on IMCP is available here: http://www.eda.gov/challenges/imcp/.

Information about Advance Michigan can be found here: http://www.eda.gov/challenges/imcp/files/IMCP_2_Pager_Handout_Michigan.pdf.