Governor Granholm Announces $20 Million for Clean-Energy Manufacturing Projects

April 21, 2010

Recovery Act funding will help create jobs, grow state's new energy economy

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that her administration will make an additional $20 million available to small Michigan manufacturers looking to diversify, retool and create jobs in clean energy.  Michigan companies will compete for $15 million in grants and $5 million in loans through the Clean Energy Advanced Manufacturing (CEAM) initiative funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act).

In December, five Michigan companies were awarded a share of $15 million in the first round of Recovery Act-funded CEAM grants.

"The companies initially funded under this program have put their Recovery Act funds to good use, leveraging private sector dollars and aggressively moving into high-growth renewable energy industries," Granholm said.  "They are creating jobs and helping to diversify Michigan's economy.  With this second round of grants and loans, we're helping more businesses build on our world-class manufacturing tradition, and in the process, continuing to grow the new energy economy in Michigan."

The Michigan Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth (DELEG) will issue an official Request for Proposals (RFP) for the second round of CEAM funding on Friday, April 23.  Any small to medium for-profit business located in Michigan, or which will locate in Michigan by the time grants are awarded, is eligible to apply.  Proposals for projects involving renewable energy systems and components are due May 7; proposals for energy efficiency manufacturing are due May 21.  Applicants who applied for first round funding will be required to update their application with specified supplemental information to be considered for funding in round two.

"The goal of these grants and loans is to build new markets for Michigan's manufacturers and create anchor companies to attract new businesses to Michigan," said DELEG Director Stanley "Skip" Pruss.  "Not only will these companies help grow Michigan's economy, their innovations will help the country and the state reduce greenhouse gas emissions and our reliance on fossil fuels."

The second round of Recovery Act CEAM funding is the latest step in the Granholm administration's efforts to create jobs by growing the state's new energy economy.

In the last six years, Michigan has committed more than $2.4 billion to help alternative energy and advanced-battery companies locate and grow in Michigan.  Under the Granholm administration, Michigan has:

• established Michigan as the nation's advanced-battery capital with investments of $5.7 billion since January 2009, which is expected to create over 54,000 new jobs;
• increased solar industry investment from 2004-2010 by $3.27 billion, which will create over 23,000 jobs;
• created a growing wind-energy industry in Michigan of over 100 companies, in part by pushing for and signing legislation for changes in Michigan's energy laws to require utilities to use renewable energy;
• enrolled more than 123,000 workers in job-training through Michigan's No Worker Left Behind initiative.  Michigan colleges and training providers have added or updated more than 12,000 educational programs to help ensure that Michigan workers have the skills they need to transition to good-paying jobs in fast-growing sectors like renewable energy manufacturing.

Among the companies awarded CEAM funding in 2009 were: 

• Astraeus Wind Energy, Inc. located in Eaton Rapids - $7 million to manufacture large-scale, advanced-composite wind turbine blades and hub-related components;
• Energetx Composites, LLC located in Holland - $3.5 million to manufacture large-scale, advanced-composite wind turbine blades;
• Loc Performance Products, Inc. located in Plymouth - $1.5 million to manufacture planetary gears and gearboxes for utility-scale wind turbines;
• LUMA Resources LLC located in Rochester Hills - $.5 million to manufacture products for the residential photovoltaic solar market;
• Merrill Technologies Group located in Saginaw - $3 million to manufacture large-scale, advanced-composite wind turbine blades and system components.

Visit www.michigan.gov/energyofficeor call the Bureau of Energy Systems at 517-241-6228 for a grant application or additional information on this grant opportunity.

# # #