MILLER AND KNOLLENBERG ANNOUNCE $5 MILLION GRANT FOR AUTOMATION ALLEY FACILITY IN MACOMB COUNTY
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
The following information was released by the office of Michigan Rep. Candice Miller:
Congresswoman Candice Miller and Congressman Joe Knollenberg today announced that $5,000,000 has been authorized in the Department of Defense Authorization bill for FY08 for Automation Alley to create a new Macomb County Business Accelerator. Automation Alley is working with auto suppliers to take advantage of a soon to be vacated Delphi research and development facility in Shelby Township.
The Macomb County Business Accelerator will form a strategic partnership between TACOM LCMC, specifically the engineering branch, TARDEC, and Automation Alley to research and develop a new process to alleviate the problem of obsolescence that TACOM is facing in manufacturing weapons systems. The accelerator will allow automakers to manufacture military parts that TACOM needs to maintain its over 3000 weapons systems but cannot currently access due to business closures.
This funding is great news for Macomb County, for our military, and for Automation Alley, and I'm pleased I was able to get it included in the FY '08 Defense Authorization Bill, Rep. Miller said. This accelerator would help create new opportunities for Michigan manufacturing companies in the defense field and new jobs for workers in Southeast Michigan. This is an innovative project and has truly been a great example of cooperation between federal, state and local government as well as area businesses to work together to expand our economy in Southeast Michigan. This is truly a win-win situation for our manufacturing companies, workers and the military."
We need to explore innovative ways to find synergies between the military and the automotive industry. This project in Macomb County will be good for Michigan's economy and good for the region, said Congressman Joe Knollenberg.
Ken Rogers Executive Director of Automation Alley, said, I would like to thank Congresswoman Candice Miller and Congressman Joe Knollenberg for their strong support for this important readiness initiative. Congresswoman Miller was a tremendous help as a member of the House Armed Services Committee in getting this authorized in the FY08 DOD Authorization bill that was reported out yesterday. We look forward to working with Congressman Knollenberg, who is committed to help in the House Appropriations Committee, to get these funds appropriated in the FY08 DOD Appropriations bill.
Automation Alley looks forward to working with TARDEC on its significant parts obsolescence problem and look to our Members and other automotive suppliers to address this issue. We are especially pleased to be involved in an effort to diversify and create new markets for traditional automotive suppliers.
Rep. Miller, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, was able to include this funding in the Defense authorization bill that was passed out of Committee last week and will come to the floor of the House for a vote early this week. Rep. Knollenberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, will oversee the next step in the process, which is getting the funding appropriated in the Defense appropriations bill, which is slated to come to the floor later this year.
This is another step forward for a project that has come as a result of cooperation between members of Congress, Automation Alley, local companies, state and local government.