Michigan Announces First-of-its-Kind Innovation Infrastructure Agreement to Leverage National Guard Resources to Stimulate Entrepreneurship

Michigan is the first state in the nation to take a proactive, strategic approach to expanding innovators' access to physical infrastructure.

LANSING, Mich. – Team Michigan continues to strengthen economic competitiveness with the official launch of a first-of-its-kind “Infrastructure for Innovation” agreement between the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Michigan National Guard (MING). The agreement, which went into effect today, strengthens the commitment of both MEDC and MING to leverage Michigan's defense-focused innovation resources and provide associated critical infrastructure to enable entrepreneurs to develop and test their ideas. This marks the first of many MOUs with Michigan-based agencies to strengthen support for innovators as part of this initiative.

“Michigan has a powerful network of universities, local governments, civic organizations and military entities with the facilities and expertise entrepreneurs need to pursue their innovative ideas, but too often they don't have access to it,” said Governor Whitmer. “At the Mackinac Policy Conference earlier this year, I signed an executive order calling for open access to this network, which I call an 'infrastructure for innovation.' Today, thanks to our first-in-the-nation approach, we are formally signing the first of many upcoming agreements that will connect innovators with the cutting-edge tools and space they need to test their products. In the coming months, we will continue to build these partnerships and send a message to the world: if you want to bring your ideas to fruition, come to Michigan.”

The Infrastructure for Innovation Initiative, announced by Governor Whitmer during her keynote address at the Mackinac Policy Conference, was created by Executive Order 2024-2 and directs state agencies to catalog technology, equipment and facilities across the state and work with owners to make them available to innovators who need them.

Through this strengthened partnership, MING will place special emphasis on highlighting the business-friendliness, accessibility and year-round availability of Michigan's military installations and infrastructure. MEDC will value closer collaboration with local, county and state government agencies to streamline the use and incentives process for innovation infrastructure. This joint effort will highlight a whole-of-government approach to expanding economic opportunity in the state.

“Michigan is home to a variety of military assets, infrastructure and testing facilities that have a significant impact on our economy and our national defense strategy,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general of the Michigan National Guard and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “Historically, the Michigan National Guard has prioritized building and developing partnerships with military and defense agencies in the region to strengthen our capabilities to enable innovation. We are excited about the opportunity to strengthen these partnerships through the use of Michigan-based defense capabilities and infrastructure and increase the level of impact Michigan's defense industry has regionally and globally.”

This effort will increase access to Michigan for early-stage companies in defense, dual-use and non-defense sectors. It will also ensure the state identifies, and where necessary, develops, the assets and infrastructure needed to power emerging technologies that advance national security priorities and capabilities.

“We pride ourselves on being a great place to start and innovate here, home to our legendary workforce and the bold thinkers and doers who powered the arsenal of democracy in World War II and continue to expand high-tech discoveries to this day through our 'Make It in Michigan' economic strategy,” said Michigan Chief Innovation Ecosystem Officer Ben Marchionna. “This partnership underscores our shared commitment to breaking down barriers and doing all we can to create opportunities for innovators to research, build and deploy technology right here in Michigan.”

Quick Facts: Michigan Defense Industry Strength Michigan has a number of capabilities and potential partnerships that enable defense-focused innovation worth considering, including the National All-Spectrum Combat Center (NADWC), Kelly Johnson Joint All-Spectrum Innovation Center (KJJADIC), U.S. Army Development Signal Corps, Keweenaw Research Center, and Chippewa Test Facility. Michigan's defense industry provides $30 billion in economic activity to the state, with more than 166,000 jobs and nearly 4,000 Michigan businesses serving the defense, defense aerospace, and homeland security industries. The Michigan National Guard boasts five major facilities and an additional arsenal, including the National All-Spectrum Training Center in Grayling and one of the nation's largest Air National Guard bases in Selfridge, Macomb County.

In April 2024, Michigan announced a new Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation (ODAI), led by retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. John Gutierrez, to further grow the state's defense and aerospace industries. Building on the state's existing Michigan Defense Center, ODAI will work to raise awareness of Michigan's capabilities, help attract and expand companies that advance Department of Defense-related activities, and bolster the state's growing commercial and defense-related aerospace segments.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the marketing arm of the State of Michigan and the leading advocate for business development, job awareness and community development focused on growing Michigan's economy. To learn more about MEDC and our work, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, start your journey at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: cgurgu@internetmarketingcompany.BizWebsite: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos