by Carly Moran
A materials and advancement research hub in Lansing will receive $400,000 in federal taxpayer money to develop faster charging electric vehicles.
The Federal Economic Development Administration announced the grant for project, which is a partnership between the Michigan State University Foundation and the EDA’s tech hub program. The hub will be used to research advanced materials, such as synthetic diamonds and rare isotopes, to advance semiconductor and defense technology. One of the hub’s key goals is to charge electric vehicles up to five times faster.
“The MARS hub will power innovation and help the region fully realize its economic potential,” said David Washburn, executive director of the MSU Research Foundation. “Unlocking Michigan’s true potential lies in our ability to gather regional strengths and put them together in a way that secures federal funding, and this is perfect evidence of our success.”
Beginning in May, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist launched a statewide effort to support regions in submitting applications for the funding. The Michigan Infrastructure Office, Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and the Michigan Economic Development Corp also helped.
“I am thrilled that Michigan has won a competitive, national tech hub grant to develop and deploy technologies critical to the future of the economy and our national security,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. “Let’s keep building the future.”
The Lansing grant is one part of the bipartisan CHIPS Act, which invests up to $10 billion over five years in 20 regional innovation hubs. The program seeks to diversify the nation’s economy through funding contests across communities.
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Carly Moran is a contributor to The Center Square.
