Kalamazoo Times

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently joined U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo in announcing a $1.4 million in grant funding for renovations to Central Michigan University's Research Corporation's business incubator.

According to a news release, funding will provided through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and will mainly be used to provide office upgrades that will boost safety for local entrepreneurs. 

“[This] investment will help the Central Michigan University Research Corp. improve its facilities and empower entrepreneurs,” Whitmer said, according to the release. “This investment will help us continue growing our economy, creating good-paying jobs, and building on our manufacturing and R&D strengths. 

"This month we opened the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at Michigan State University and the Wacker Innovation Center in Ann Arbor," she added. "We must keep investing in every region of Michigan to tap into the entrepreneurial energy in every county of our great state. Our efforts to grow the economy are working. Unemployment is 4.4%, we’ve added 174,000 jobs year over year, and we are working together to lower the costs of essentials like child care and housing and putting money in people’s pockets with $400 auto refund checks and proposed tax cuts for seniors and working families." 

Local stakeholders will provide $352,320 to match the CMU investment, which is projected to create 100 jobs, retain 30 jobs and create $5 million in private investments.

“The Economic Development Administration is pleased to support Central Michigan University and its efforts to build a more resilient regional economy,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Castillo, according to the news release. “The Central Michigan University Research Corp. is an anchor facility for entrepreneurs in the region where they can safely meet in person and return to pre-pandemic productivity.”

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) also lauded the funding.

“This investment will strengthen the university’s efforts to provide our entrepreneurs and small businesses with the space and resources they need to get their businesses up and running,” she said, according to the release. “Congratulations to Central Michigan. It’s exciting to see the university transform new technology and innovation into new jobs and new businesses for Michigan.”