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Whitmer Announces New $50M Federal Michigan Maritime Manufacturing Initiative
Press Release/Mike Kaufman
Mon, 22 Jul 2024 22:39:40 EDT
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Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. Department of Labor to officially launch the Michigan Maritime Manufacturing (M3) Initiative, a more than $50 million partnership aimed at building a workforce ready to lead the future of defense manufacturing.
"As we invest in training the next generation of workers, we send a clear message to manufacturers across the nation: come to Michigan," Governor Whitmer said. "Here, we make stuff - whether it's ships, semiconductor chips, or potato chips. We have the grit and know-how to produce anything America needs."
The M3 Initiative will focus on training workers in critical skills for maritime construction, particularly in maritime welding and machining, through local community colleges. It will also connect K-12 students with hands-on career and technical education, sparking interest in maritime manufacturing careers. Michigan's community colleges are a recognized resource for developing and adapting training programs and will play a critical role in providing highly advanced and technical training to address the Navy's manufacturing supplier chain talent needs.
"Our defense industry contributes $30 billion to our economy, supporting more than 166,000 jobs and nearly 4,000 businesses," Governor Whitmer added. "We produce more military vehicles than any other state and are home to major defense companies including General Dynamics, BAE, and GM Defense. With our growing veteran population - over 670,000 strong - Michigan is primed to remain a manufacturing powerhouse. I am grateful to the Biden-Harris administration for making this investment in Michigan manufacturing possible."
"Today, we face an increasingly dangerous world where our interests, and our allies, are under threat," said Senator Peters, a member of the Armed Services Committee and former Lieutenant Commander in the Navy Reserve. "Michigan has a long history of stepping up to protect our country, and this announcement represents our continued grit, commitment, and expertise in the high-precision, advanced manufacturing needed to support our military. I'll keep working to secure additional investments to strengthen our industrial base and keep Michigan at the forefront of U.S. national security efforts."
