The Defense Department has awarded an $8 million grant to the University of Michigan’s Institute for Research on Labor, Employment and the Economy to help companies and communities affected by DoD downsizing efforts in three U.S. states.
The funds will support the university-run Defense Manufacturing Assistance Program that aims to help as many as 72 communities and companies across Michigan, Ohio and Indiana to attract new business and retain existing businesses, the university said Wednesday.
“All of us at DMAP are excited about expanding our capacity to assist additional companies and communities through our resiliency and diversification projects,” said Megan Reichert, DMAP project director.
The University of Michigan operates DMAP with Purdue University and Ohio State University and the DoD grant will help the universities establish partnerships with regional defense industry research institutions to support the defense supply chain.
DMAP works to evaluate the financial health and market placement of a company or a community and assist them in efforts to implement diversification plans.
