Biden-Harris Administration Awards Planning Grant to Advance Development of Industrial Equipment Technology in Michigan

WASHINGTON, DC — The Biden-Harris administration, through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), today announced that Materials Advancement and Research Solutions (MARS) Strategy Development Consortium in East Lansing, Michigan, was awarded a Tech Hubs Strategy Development Grant to foster a regional coalition and develop a strategy to advance synthetic diamond and rare isotope production.

The Materials Advancement and Research Solutions (MARS) Strategy Development Consortium, led by Michigan State University Research Foundation, will leverage the grant to increase local coordination and planning activities to strengthen its region’s capacity to manufacture, commercialize, and deploy technologies critical to U.S. economic and national security. The Tech Hubs Program, authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act, is investing in U.S. regions and aims to transform them into globally competitive innovation centers. This consortium was selected for a grant from a competitive pool of 181 applications.

“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is rooted in policies that will empower the United States to out-innovate and out-compete the rest of the world. Our Tech Hubs Program is fundamental to that mission and will supercharge innovation across the nation by spurring cutting-edge technological investments and creating 21st century job opportunities in people’s backyards,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Each of these consortia will help us ensure the industries of the future—and their good-paying jobs—start, grow, and remain in the United States.”

“These outstanding consortia exemplify place-based economic development strategies at their best: combining federal resources with regional assets, expertise, and coalitions to implement transformational opportunities,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “As each region develops its own strategy to catalyze innovation and job creation, the entire nation grows more secure and more competitive.”

“I am thrilled that Michigan has won a competitive, national Tech Hub grant to develop and deploy technologies critical to the future of the economy and our national security,” said Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “The Materials Advancement and Research Solutions, or MARS, Strategy Development Consortium in East Lansing, Michigan, led by the Michigan State University Research Foundation, will use this grant to work on synthetic diamond and rare isotope production. The national network of Tech Hubs, funded by President Biden’s bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, will help Michigan continue to be a center of game-changing innovation. Let’s keep building the future.”

“This is great news for MSU and Mid-Michigan – being selected for this program and the investment it brings will provide a solid foundation for a vibrant and sustainable future for the communities of the Lansing region and the entire state of Michigan,” said Representative Elissa Slotkin (MI-07). “That impact is why I’ve strongly supported this initiative, the Tech Hubs Program, and the entire CHIPS & Science Act. This announcement will drive regional technology and innovation-centric growth by expanding the region’s capacity to manufacture critical technologies, while creating good jobs and strengthening America’s national security.”

For a full list of Tech Hubs, visit TechHubs.gov.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.