Governor Whitmer Announces $23 Million Investment to Build Infrastructure, Grow In-Demand Industries, Create Jobs and Strengthen Workforce Training
Make it in Michigan Competitiveness Fund investment leverages up to nearly $118 million in federal funding for 9 projects across Michigan
LANSING, Mich.— Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a $23 million state investment that leverages up to nearly $118 million in federal funding for projects across Michigan. The funding, made possible by the Make it in Michigan Competitiveness Fund (MIIMCF), will advance nine projects expected to create more than 1,000 jobs and position Michigan as a leader in defense, aerospace, space technology and advanced manufacturing. The funding will also support workforce development, port infrastructure, community development, local parks and accessible public spaces, and Michigan’s agriculture and food systems.
“Every dollar we invest through the Make it in Michigan Competitiveness Fund brings more federal money home to Michigan, helping us create good-paying jobs and lead the industries of the future,” said Governor Whitmer. “These nine projects, including next-generation defense and space technology development, port upgrades, and training for careers in nuclear energy, will make a difference in communities from Detroit to the Upper Peninsula. Let’s keep working together to grow our economy and help people ‘make it’ in Michigan.”
Since Governor Whitmer established the Michigan Infrastructure Office, Michigan has secured more than $16 billion in federal funding for roads, bridges, public transit, water infrastructure, broadband access and more. The MIIMCF has been critical in providing the state matching funds that allow Michigan to compete for and win federal investments. Including the investments announced today, the MIIMCF has invested over $320 million, leveraging $1.2 billion in federal and $1.9 million in private funds — a return on investment of almost 10:1.
“The Make it in Michigan Competitiveness Fund gives our communities, universities and businesses the matching dollars they need to compete for, and win, federal investment,” said Kevin Mehren, director of the Michigan Infrastructure Office. “With more than $5 in federal funding for every state dollar, these awards deliver a strong return for Michigan taxpayers. They also keep critical work moving forward, including the Port of Monroe expansion, which lost federal support midway through construction.”
The projects that are receiving funding from the MIIMCF:
- Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) has been awarded $10.5 million to construct a 57,000-square-foot Readiness Center at the Olympia National Guard Armory in Detroit. The facility will support training administration, automation and communications. DMVA estimates the creation of about 200 construction jobs with an additional 500 National Guard positions at the armory once the project is complete. The project leverages $34 million in federal appropriations and an additional $1 million from the DMVA.
- KMI Space has been awarded $3.5 million to finalize development, design and operations of the Laelaps spacecraft, a vehicle designed to rendezvous with, retrieve and relocate satellites in orbit. The spacecraft will extend the life of existing satellites and reduce the cost and frequency of replacements. KMI Space estimates creating 60 additional jobs at its Marquette facility. The project leverages $34 million from the Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) program through SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force.
- The City of Detroit has been awarded $2.5 million to construct an off-street segment of the Joe Louis Greenway from Woodward Avenue to Dequindre Street, which will remove major barriers created by an active freight rail line and I-75. This shared-use pathway will deliver the first safe, east–west, off-street non-motorized connection between Detroit and Highland Park, completing a regionally significant active transportation corridor. Anticipated benefits include improved access to jobs, transit, and commercial corridors. The project leverages a $10.5 million award from the U.S. Department of Transportation Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program.
- The University of Michigan has been awarded $2 million through the Partnership to Enhance the Nuclear Workforce, a regional consortium led by the University of Toledo, to expand workforce training and engage high school students in nuclear careers. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the nuclear industry will need to fill 375,000 jobs by 2050. The award leverages $5 million in federal funding and an additional $3 million from the University of Michigan. Additional partners include IBEW 6th District, Monroe County Community College and DTE. The team of University of Michigan and Monroe Community College expects to train 75 community college graduates and 500 bachelor’s degree students and to involve 60 undergraduate and graduate students in developing the program.
- Ionia Community Library has been awarded $1.5 million to renovate the former Mercantile Bank building into the new Ionia Community Library. The new library will offer space for workforce training, meetings, tutoring, collaborative learning and digital skills development. The project leverages $2.1 million in Congressionally Directed Spending secured by Senator Peters from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Community Facilities Program and $500,000 raised by the community.
- The Port of Monroe has been awarded $1.1 million to build a new riverfront berth, rehab the turning basin dock, create a maritime readiness wharf and install modern, clean shore power systems. The project leverages an $18.8 million FY25 award from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) and builds on a partially expanded FY22 PIDP award that was canceled mid-project by the current federal administration. The Port of Monroe expects to create 240 construction jobs and sustain 20 long-term specialized maritime jobs.
- Pending a federal award, Village of L’Anse will receive $700,000 to reconstruct and extend the existing quay at L’Anse Port to accommodate larger vessels and heavy equipment, allowing the port to serve as the receiving point for stamps and materials for the copper extraction site in Gay, Michigan. This investment will enable Quincy Materials Corporation to process 1.5 million to 2 million tons per year of legacy copper mine tailings into copper concentrate and supplementary cementitious materials. The project has the potential to leverage $11.25 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Port Infrastructure Development Program, along with additional investments from business and shipping interests at the port.
- Michigan Department of Transportation has been awarded $250,000 to support additional planning work to cap I-75 in downtown Detroit. This investment leverages a $2 million planning grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program.
- Pending a federal award, West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission (WSMRDC) will receive $41,700 to advance West Michigan’s regional food and agricultural economy. The project builds on previous work supported by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, including an economic cluster analysis of West Michigan’s agriculture sector and will focus on building supply chain, workforce and agribusiness capacity across the 13-county region. The project has the potential to leverage $250,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service Regional Food Systems Partnerships program and additional investment from the WMSRDC.
ABOUT THE MICHIGAN INFRASTRUCTURE OFFICE The Michigan Infrastructure Office is responsible for organizing and executing Governor Whitmer’s vision for infrastructure, coordinating across state government, marshaling resources, and partnering with local officials, federal partners, and outside stakeholders to ensure resources sent to Michigan through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, are used efficiently and effectively.
