Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday celebrated additional investments for Selfridge Air National Guard Base and the Michigan Maritime Manufacturing (M3) Initiative.
New investments from the ‘Make it in Michigan’ Competitiveness Fund will support the construction of a new lab facility at Selfridge Air National Guard Base and develop workforce training opportunities in shipbuilding and related maritime manufacturing through the M3 Initiative.
“Michigan’s defense industry is moving the nation forward,” said Whitmer. “These investments from the ‘Make it in Michigan’ Competitiveness Fund are helping us protect our nation and prepare our servicemembers for a bright future. I’m proud to bring new construction to Selfridge and more resources to the M3 Initiative, creating opportunities and good-paying jobs for Michiganders. Let’s keep working together to invest in our defense industry, develop a strong workforce, and shape the future of advanced manufacturing.”
Selfridge Air National Guard Base
$5.9 million will be used by IQM Research Institute - Ann Arbor to support the construction of a new Connected Vehicle Cybersecurity Center and System Integration Lab/Hardware Integration lab at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. This 25,000 square foot facility will be composed of labs, classrooms, vehicle storage, and administrative offices designed to bolster cybersecurity protections for military and commercial vehicles, supporting 107 good-paying construction jobs. The 'Make it in Michigan’ Competitiveness Fund investment will be used to leverage $29.5 million in federal funding from National Defense Authorization Act.
These investments build on the $152 million supplemental budget investment secured in May, designated for infrastructure upgrades that are essential to preparing the base for the next generation of fighter?and tanker aircraft?and supporting the long-term future of one of the nation's premier military bases.?
Selfridge Air National Guard Base is one of Michigan's most strategically important military bases, generating an estimated $850 million in annual economic impact, supporting approximately 30,000 jobs statewide and serving as home to units from nearly every branch of the U.S. military.?
The infrastructure improvements build on the?April 2025 announcement?naming Selfridge as the future home of the F-15EX fighter mission and positions?Selfridge to continue serving as a cornerstone of Michigan's defense and aerospace industries.?The F-15EX announcement builds on the Air Force's earlier decision to station eight KC-46A Pegasus?aircraft?at Selfridge, replacing the installation's aging KC-135 Stratotanker fleet.?
Michigan Maritime Manufacturing Initiative
$3.6 million will support workforce training of high-wage jobs in shipbuilding and related maritime manufacturing industries. Through the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), resources will be distributed to eligible employers to train up to 720 workers as part of the state's effort to revitalize the domestic shipbuilding industry.
Approximately 300 shipbuilding suppliers are located in Michigan. The 'Make it in Michigan’ Competitiveness Fund investment will be used to leverage $8 million in federal funding from the Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund administered by the US Department of Labor.
This builds on investments in the FY27 budget to grow Michigan’s defense workforce and develop talent, including $3.5 million to grow the maritime manufacturing sector and strengthen the state’s defense industry, create good-paying jobs, foster innovation, and attract new investment.
Launched in July 2024, the Michigan Maritime Manufacturing (M3) Initiative focuses on training workers in critical skills for maritime construction, such as welding and machining, through partnerships with community colleges. M3 also connects K-12 students with hands-on career and technical education, inspiring the next generation and creating strong pathways to careers in maritime manufacturing.
New investments from the ‘Make it in Michigan’ Competitiveness Fund will support the construction of a new lab facility at Selfridge Air National Guard Base and develop workforce training opportunities in shipbuilding and related maritime manufacturing through the M3 Initiative.
“Michigan’s defense industry is moving the nation forward,” said Whitmer. “These investments from the ‘Make it in Michigan’ Competitiveness Fund are helping us protect our nation and prepare our servicemembers for a bright future. I’m proud to bring new construction to Selfridge and more resources to the M3 Initiative, creating opportunities and good-paying jobs for Michiganders. Let’s keep working together to invest in our defense industry, develop a strong workforce, and shape the future of advanced manufacturing.”
Selfridge Air National Guard Base
$5.9 million will be used by IQM Research Institute - Ann Arbor to support the construction of a new Connected Vehicle Cybersecurity Center and System Integration Lab/Hardware Integration lab at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. This 25,000 square foot facility will be composed of labs, classrooms, vehicle storage, and administrative offices designed to bolster cybersecurity protections for military and commercial vehicles, supporting 107 good-paying construction jobs. The 'Make it in Michigan’ Competitiveness Fund investment will be used to leverage $29.5 million in federal funding from National Defense Authorization Act.
These investments build on the $152 million supplemental budget investment secured in May, designated for infrastructure upgrades that are essential to preparing the base for the next generation of fighter?and tanker aircraft?and supporting the long-term future of one of the nation's premier military bases.?
Selfridge Air National Guard Base is one of Michigan's most strategically important military bases, generating an estimated $850 million in annual economic impact, supporting approximately 30,000 jobs statewide and serving as home to units from nearly every branch of the U.S. military.?
The infrastructure improvements build on the?April 2025 announcement?naming Selfridge as the future home of the F-15EX fighter mission and positions?Selfridge to continue serving as a cornerstone of Michigan's defense and aerospace industries.?The F-15EX announcement builds on the Air Force's earlier decision to station eight KC-46A Pegasus?aircraft?at Selfridge, replacing the installation's aging KC-135 Stratotanker fleet.?
Michigan Maritime Manufacturing Initiative
$3.6 million will support workforce training of high-wage jobs in shipbuilding and related maritime manufacturing industries. Through the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), resources will be distributed to eligible employers to train up to 720 workers as part of the state's effort to revitalize the domestic shipbuilding industry.
Approximately 300 shipbuilding suppliers are located in Michigan. The 'Make it in Michigan’ Competitiveness Fund investment will be used to leverage $8 million in federal funding from the Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund administered by the US Department of Labor.
This builds on investments in the FY27 budget to grow Michigan’s defense workforce and develop talent, including $3.5 million to grow the maritime manufacturing sector and strengthen the state’s defense industry, create good-paying jobs, foster innovation, and attract new investment.
Launched in July 2024, the Michigan Maritime Manufacturing (M3) Initiative focuses on training workers in critical skills for maritime construction, such as welding and machining, through partnerships with community colleges. M3 also connects K-12 students with hands-on career and technical education, inspiring the next generation and creating strong pathways to careers in maritime manufacturing.
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