Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant

Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant

Funder: U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA)

Award Amount: Approximately $52.2 million

Geographic Scope: Detroit region (11-county Detroit Region in Southeast Michigan)

Program Duration: Four-year grant award

Overview:
The Global Epicenter of Mobility (GEM) coalition, led by the Detroit Regional Partnership Foundation, received this EDA funding to transform the Detroit area's legacy automotive industry into a highly competitive advanced mobility cluster.

Focus Areas

The grant supports four main initiatives:
• Supply Chain Transformation Center: Provides direct assistance to existing legacy manufacturers to transition to broader mobility products
• Talent Transformation: Works with businesses across the supply chain to identify talent needs and invests in wraparound supports and training for workers
• Mobility Accelerator Innovation Network: Helps identify and support fundable start-ups in the mobility space
• Testing and Proving Infrastructure: Supports foundational infrastructure to increase accessibility and capacity of testing and proving sites
• Site Readiness: Prepares industrial sites for private investment

Coalition Members

GEM unites 136 coalition members including:
• Big Three automakers
• United Auto Workers
• Universities
• State, local, and community leadership

Background

Despite significant local assets and potential leverage of more than $5 billion in private investment, the region faced challenges from:
• Rising global competition in electric and autonomous vehicle markets
• Rapid pace of innovation in new mobility solutions
• Aging workforce needing continuous reskilling

Contact

Organization: Detroit Regional Partnership Foundation / Global Epicenter of Mobility (GEM) Website: gemdetroitregion.com Primary Website: DetroitRegionalPartnership.com