Last week, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. Department of Labor to officially launch the Michigan Maritime Manufacturing (M3) Initiative, a more than $50 million partnership aimed at building a workforce ready to lead the future of defense manufacturing.
“As we invest in training the next generation of workers, we send a clear message to manufacturers across the nation: come to Michigan,” Governor Whitmer said. “Here, we make stuff—whether it’s ships, semiconductor chips, or potato chips. We have the grit and know-how to produce anything America needs.”
The M3 Initiative will focus on training workers in critical skills for maritime construction, particularly in maritime welding and machining, through local community colleges. It will also connect K-12 students with hands-on career and technical education, sparking interest in maritime manufacturing careers. Michigan’s community colleges are a recognized resource for developing and adapting training programs and will play a critical role in providing highly advanced and technical training to address the Navy’s manufacturing supplier chain talent needs.
Michigan’s manufacturing history includes leading roles in the automotive industry, agriculture, and emerging technologies like batteries and clean energy, the governer’s press release noted. The press release boasted the state’s skilled population standing ready to tackle new challenges, also noting the Department of Defense's recognition of Michigan as a strategic partner in defense initiatives.
“Our defense industry contributes $30 billion to our economy, supporting more than 166,000 jobs and nearly 4,000 businesses,” Governor Whitmer added. “We produce more military vehicles than any other state and are home to major defense companies including General Dynamics, BAE, and GM Defense. With our growing veteran population—over 670,000 strong—Michigan is primed to remain a manufacturing powerhouse. I am grateful to the Biden-Harris administration for making this investment in Michigan manufacturing possible.”
“Today, we face an increasingly dangerous world where our interests, and our allies, are under threat,” said Senator Peters, a member of the Armed Services Committee and former Lieutenant Commander in the Navy Reserve. “Michigan has a long history of stepping up to protect our country, and this announcement represents our continued grit, commitment, and expertise in the high-precision, advanced manufacturing needed to support our military. I’ll keep working to secure additional investments to strengthen our industrial base and keep Michigan at the forefront of U.S. national security efforts.”
The M3 Initiative is an effort to revitalize and expand Michigan's maritime manufacturing capabilities. By leveraging the state’s educational institutions and industrial history, the initiative seeks to meet the Navy's growing demands while supporting economic development across Michigan and the Great Lakes region.
“This investment will help us better connect suppliers in Michigan to the Submarine Industrial Base, whether they be existing Navy suppliers, or auto suppliers who are poised to expand their business,” said Susan Corbin, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity director. “Connecting federal, state, and local programs and dollars will help us create better paths for businesses, people and communities to thrive and achieve greater economic success.”
The release acknowledged the partnerships that assisted in creating this initiative, including: the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Macomb County Planning and Economic Development, Michigan Works! Agencies, and Learning Innovations for Tomorrow’s Learning Lab.
“As a son and father of United States military service members, it is a point of immense pride and privilege to be a partner in the M3 initiative to enhance Michigan’s standing as a state helping those who protect and serve our nation,” said Quentin Messer, Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. “Historically, Michigan has been at the forefront of making equipment that has protected our men and women in uniform. We are pleased the defense and aerospace sectors remain front and center in the ‘Make it in Michigan’ economic development strategy focused on People, Places and Projects. This is an incredible opportunity to foster growth for the array of Michigan educational institutions, R&D facilities, and businesses connected to the defense industry, and to encourage future in-state entrepreneurship in this sector.
These partners, along with community colleges like Macomb Community College and Oakland Community College, will implement accelerated training programs to prepare thousands of new workers for in-demand skills. The Navy will actively align these programs with industry hiring demands to ensure immediate placement of graduates.
“Macomb Community College is honored to play an integral role in ramping up our talent pipeline to support a strong maritime industrial base workforce in Michigan,” said Macomb Community College President James O. Sawyer IV. “We are proud to support the Navy’s maritime mission while preparing our residents to be highly skilled workers qualified for well-paying, meaningful jobs vital to sustaining and growing our local defense contractors.”
For more information about the M3 Initiative and how to get involved, you can visit their website here.
