Michigan Budget Includes $2M For Automation Alley
TROY -- The Michigan state budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, signed last week by Gov. Rick Snyder, includes a $2 million provision for Automation Alley, Michigan's largest technology business association.
Automation Alley will use the funds for business accelerator activities in areas including international trade, defense, manufacturing and entrepreneurship.
The budget also includes an additional $500,000 Oakland County business incubator line item for which Automation Alley is eligible to compete, as it has done successfully in previous years.
"For 13 years, Automation Alley has been driving results-based economic growth in Michigan's technology sector by focusing on our region's assets," said Automation Alley Executive Director Ken Rogers. "This funding gives our dedicated team and our partners the resources they need to keep delivering results through job creation, high-tech innovation and business growth in Southeast Michigan. We're truly excited by this renewed partnership between the state, Automation Alley and the region. We appreciate the Legislature's and the governor's recognition of Automation Alley's contribution to Michigan's economy."
Automation Alley's partners in the Michigan Legislature, including Sen. John Pappageorge (R-Troy) and Rep. Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham), supported the provision.
"Automation Alley is uniquely positioned to advance Michigan's standing in the global economy," said Pappageorge. "Through their work in eight counties throughout Southeast Michigan, they are able to achieve results that benefit the entire state. This is an investment that will pay dividends."
"Michigan is lucky to have Automation Alley, which sets the standards for innovative economic development and providing the jobs for our future," said Moss.
Funding from the state of Michigan supports many programs at Automation Alley designed to grow the innovation cluster of Southeast Michigan. To date, Automation Alley's 15 trade missions have secured $166 million in contracts for regional companies, resulting in the creation or support of 917 jobs. In the past year, Automation Alley has attracted six technology companies from overseas to the region, resulting in the creation of 352 new jobs. Since 2010, Automation Alley's defense consultants have met with 215 clients or companies in Southeast Michigan's robust defense and manufacturing corridor. Additionally, Automation Alley has invested $6.56 million in 33 local technology startups.
Since its founding in 1999, Automation Alley has expanded to include nearly 1,000 businesses, educational institutions and government entities from the City of Detroit and the surrounding eight-county region. Automation Alley promotes regional prosperity through entrepreneurial and exporting assistance, workforce development and technology acceleration.
For additional information, visit www.automationalley.com.
