Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) one of the winners of the $37 million Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge
To spur Economic Growth and Job Creation in 20 Regions across the Country
“This cluster concept is so important… When you get a group of people together, and industries together, and institutions like universities together around particular industries, then the synergies that develop from all those different facets coming together can make the whole the greater than the sum of its parts.” -President Barack Obama
MichiganMinority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) is part of the Southeast Michigan cluster which has been awarded $2.1 million dollars through the federal Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge to create new jobs and technologies related to the rapidly emerging advanced energy storage system (AESS) industry cluster.
Advanced energy systems are critical to the future of the automotive industry, which is innovating rapidly around vehicle electrification and hybridization. The alternative energy economy also relies heavily on energy storage systems, like batteries and powertrains, to prolong the life of energy generated by solar and wind systems.
“Our role here at the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council will be to focus on diversifying existing firms that are affected by the rapidly shifting automotive industry so they can create jobs now and long into the future, said Louis Green, President/CEO of MMSDC, which is located in Detroit.
“We are excited to be assist the emerging majority create new jobs and technologies related to the rapidly emerging advanced energy storage system,” said Green.
The multi-agency grant comes from the Employment and Training Administration, the Economic Development Administration and the Small Business Administration. The SBA’s grant of $150,000 will directly support the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council’s efforts to build diverse business opportunities for minority suppliers.
“We are making steady progress towards putting America back to work," said U.S. Secretary of Labor, Hilda Solis in a conference call with reporters. "The accelerator program uses federal dollars in a smarter way to build up regional economies."
The announcement of the award was made in Washington DC from: Acting U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Rebecca Blank; U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce, John Fernandez; and Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator, Karen Mills.
“SBA has a long history of support for regional clusters and the Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge is an important next step, said Karen Mills.
“I am pleased that SBA is contributing funding to bring underserved small businesses into regional clusters across the country. By working with other federal agencies, we can link, leverage, and align our resources to give small businesses the tools they need to work together, grow and create jobs.”
The SBA is an organization that the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council works with to move the economy forward.
“It’s no secret that Michigan’s economy has been hit the hardest. So this two million dollar investment in jobs for the southeast Michigan region is just what is needed to ignite new industries and create new jobs, said Green, “and we are the ready to get to work.”
For more information on the Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge, visit: www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/jobsandinnovationchallenge.
About the MMSDC:
Founded in 1977, the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMBSC) has more than 1,300 certified minority businesses and over 300 corporate members working to further its mission to certify minority businesses; provide access to procurement opportunities; and develop capacity for minority business development.
The MMBDC was recognized by the National Minority Supplier Development Council as “Council of the Year” for its work with major corporations to promote minority business development and growth. MMSDC is a non-profit, 501c 3 organization. For more information visit the MMSDC’s website at (www.minoritysupplier.org)
The MMBDC was recognized by the National Minority Supplier Development Council as “Council of the Year” for its work with major corporations to promote minority business development and growth. MMSDC is a non-profit, 501c 3 organization. For more information visit the MMSDC’s website at (www.minoritysupplier.org)
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