MSU part of alliance receiving $15 million WIRED grant to refocus economy
Promoting the bioeconomy is MSU's role as a member of the Mid-Michigan Innovation Alliance, which received a three-year $15 million WIRED grant in 2006.
The Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grant awarded to the Mid-Michigan Innovation Alliance is one of 13 grants awarded nationally by the U.S. Department of Labor. A key element of the mid-Michigan proposal is to refocus automotive supplier firms once tied to the automotive industry to emerging and growing manufacturing markets as well as the development of an alternative energy sector, including preparing workers for jobs in the bioeconomy.
"The bioeconomy will offer new employment opportunities to workers in production, materials transport, environmental protection and public safety," said MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon. "MSU wants to deploy the expertise of its research faculty members -- and the engaged outreach of MSU Extension -- to help all of Michigan lead in biobased fuels, chemicals and materials. The WIRED grant provides an important opportunity for worker development in support of that aim."
David Hollister, former Lansing mayor and CEO of the Prima Civitas Foundation, will coordinate the alliance and implement the WIRED grant. He said the WIRED grant provides an important opportunity to capture new employment opportunities offered by the bioeconomy.
"The mid-Michigan WIRED project offers our region a diverse toolkit of workforce development opportunities," Hollister said. "We need to build a shared vision of the region – and a shared commitment to the region – to make a lasting difference."
MSU is pursuing the goals of the WIRED grant in two ways. First, media-based training materials are being developed to assist worker retraining on everything from desktop computers to iPods. Second, MSU is deploying actual biorefinery equipment for hands-on experiences.
The Mid-Michigan Innovation Alliance includes 13 counties in the Flint, Lansing and Saginaw areas.
