Senators Stabenow, Peters Applaud Michigan State University’s Role in New High-Tech Manufacturing Hub

U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters today applauded President Obama's announcement that Michigan State University's Composite Materials and Structures Center and Composite Vehicles Research Center will serve as an automotive manufacturing center under the new Institute for Advanced Composite Manufacturing Innovation. This Institute will promote high-tech manufacturing and job growth in Michigan and across the country.

"This is great news for Michigan," Stabenow said. "This announcement recognizes Michigan State University's national leadership in the area of advanced manufacturing. Michigan continues to lead the way in manufacturing innovation and job creation."

"Michigan has led the way in manufacturing and automotive innovation that invested in our workers and created good, middle class jobs," said Peters. "This partnership with Michigan State will continue to strengthen our state's position as a global leader in research and technology development that will support high-tech job creation, economic growth and the resurgence of the American auto and manufacturing industries."

In addition to today's selection of Michigan State, in 2012 Michigan was selected by the Department of Energy as a location for an Advanced Battery Hub and in 2014 by the Department of Defense for the American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute.

Last year, Senators Stabenow and Peters urged U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz to fund the Institute, which spans six states - Michigan, Tennessee, Indiana, Ohio, Colorado, and Kentucky. The institute will partner with more than 200 businesses, universities, community colleges, labs, states, and local governments including Ford Motor Company, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, The Dow Chemical Company, and the City of Detroit.

The Institute for Advanced Composite Manufacturing Innovation will be supported with a $70 million grant over the next five years through the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and falls under the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation, which is a network of regional hubs to accelerate development and inspire innovative manufacturing technologies.