Global Epicenter of Mobility (GEM)
Coalition Lead: Detroit Regional Partnership Foundation
Phase 2 Award: $52 million
Private Investment (Sept. 2022 – Sept. 2024): $250.5 million
Additional Public and Nonprofit Funding (Sept. 2022 – Sept. 2024): $16.8 million
Project Description:
The Global Epicenter of Mobility (GEM) coalition is leveraging a $52 million BBBRC grant to addresses the rising global competition in the electric and autonomous vehicle market, rapid pace of innovation in new mobility solutions, and an aging workforce that needs continuous reskilling to keep up with new products and technologies. The coalition is tackling these issues through a supply-chain transformation center, a workforce training initiative, and an accelerator network.
The coalition is uniting partners such as TechTown Detroit, the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, the University of Michigan Economic Growth Institute, and Michigan Works.
As of September 2024, the coalition has made significant strides in achieving its vision of a renewed automotive and mobility economic cluster:
- Partnering Michigan Works agencies welcomed over 135 individuals to participate in mobility related training, 87 of whom have completed their programs. These trainings are connecting and aligning regional resources to create a holistic approach to talent and workforce development, and graduates are expected to experience both increased wages and job security.
- The coalition has successfully identified and assessed 189 vacant industrial land sites, 39 of which reside in historically excluded communities and 13 of which have completed desktop site readiness research with civil engineering firms, 10 more are in process, and an additional 12 are currently in the process of receiving physical site studies. Such information and readiness plans will support near- and mid-term mobility projects and ease uncertainties that private-sector firms may with respect to new endeavors in the region.
- The University of Michigan's Economic Growth Institute, through its Supply Chain Transformation Center (STC), is actively supporting companies impacted by the transition from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles. The program has admitted 75 companies, completed 43 deep-dive assessments to identify gaps and opportunities, and initiated approximately 80 technical assistance projects to bolster their resilience during this transition. Additionally, of the admitted companies, 62 percent are from historically excluded communities.
- The Mobility Accelerator Innovation Network (MAIN), which creates partner alignment and capacity to support mobility companies, has served 473 entrepreneurs, 312 of which have received direct and intensive support including one-on-one coaching. The startups in the network have received $331 million in venture capital investment and $119 million in other investments, while 174 patents have been obtained and six products have been commercialized.
Coalition Overarching Narrative (applicant submitted) (PDF)
“The Global Epicenter of Mobility is a signature program led by the Detroit Regional Partnership that is designed to create a smart, secure, sustainable, and inclusive advanced-mobility industry in Southeast Michigan, made possible by a four-year U.S. E.D.A. Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant award.”
Global Epicenter of Mobility
Related Links
- Learn more about the Detroit Regional Partnership Foundation.
- Learn more about TechTown, one of the coalition’s partners engaging in entrepreneurial support and incubation services.