Business accelerators coming to Macomb

Have you heard the buzz?  Macomb County is set to welcome at least two business accelerators in the very near future. 

Set into motion by the Economic Development Coalition of Southeast Michigan (EDCSM) – of which the department is a member – nearly $3 million in federal funding is on its way to the county.

EDCSM was convened by Detroit Renaissance and is comprised of 13 area governments and economic development agencies.  Earlier last year, MCPED Executive Director Steve Cassin traveled with the group to Washington D.C. to lobby Michigan’s delegation.  Their goal was to introduce “The Regional Innovation Network” plan for building capacity for existing business accelerators as well as to create new ones in Macomb and Western Wayne counties.  These accelerators, spread throughout the region, are designed to help businesses succeed in targeted industries including alternative energy, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, homeland security and defense. 

According to Cassin, “This was a mission that proved that there is strength in numbers.  Our representatives in D.C. were impressed to see so many us working together for the good of the entire region.”

As a result, Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow worked with Representatives Sander Levin, Joe Knollenberg and Candice Miller to address EDCSM’s requests.

The first bit of good news came in mid-November when a $2 million appropriation for the “Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages Case Resolution Program” (DMSMS) was signed by President Bush.  DMSMS will address a serious problem faced by the armed services in securing replacement parts for more than 3,000 key weapons systems. 

Under the program, Automation Alley will work with the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) of Warren to conduct reverse engineering research and assist qualifying advanced manufacturing facilities in the area to land contracts to manufacture the needed parts.  The research will be conducted at a former Delphi laboratory in Shelby Township.

More recently, Macomb County learned that it would receive a second federal earmark of $282,000 to begin planning for a second accelerator.  The funding will help to determine the most logical location for such an endeavor as well as a sustainability plan.  Stay tuned for more details!