(CBS DETROIT) — The Biden administration has announced $50 million in funding for six states with major automotive communities to convert manufacturing facilities to support the electric vehicle supply chain.
The funding is made possible by the administration’s Investing in America plan. It builds on the $1.7 billion awarded to 11 ‘closed or threatened’ facilities in several states to boost the production of electric vehicles.
Michigan is one of the recipients and will receive $18,406,420.45. The other states that will receive funding are:
- Ohio: $9,373,236.32
- Indiana: $8,770,249.81
- Kentucky: $4,876,458.57
- Tennessee: $4,513,688.68
- Illinois: $4,059,946.17
The allocations were determined in response to an April request for information on how to support small and medium-sized automakers in transitioning to electric, hybrid or fuel cell vehicle production.
To be eligible, winners must be from a state, territory or the District of Columbia, have a workforce of at least 0.5% employed in the automotive sector, and be eligible to receive a minimum of $4 million in funding.
In addition, three teams of technical assistance providers will be awarded $1.5 million under the Industrial Training and Assessment Center program. The program supports energy assessments, facility energy improvements, and workforce development and training.
The teams receiving the funding, led by the Purdue University Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the Regents of the University of Michigan and the Trustees of the University of Illinois, will help create a playbook for converting internal combustion engine suppliers to support the electric vehicle supply chain.
The Department of Energy’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains will manage funding for both programs.
US Secretary of Energy and former Governor of Michigan Jennifer Granholm attended Washtenaw Community College on Wednesday. She talked about how the government’s investments in clean energy are creating good-paying, union jobs in the state.
