Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm, D-Mich., has announced that the state of Michigan will award nine small manufacturers $15 million in grants and $5 million in loans for a total of $20 million through the Clean Energy Advanced Manufacturing (CEAM) program. Michigan's CEAM awards, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), are designed to help Michigan businesses diversify into high-growth, clean energy industries.
The CEAM award recipients were selected from among 40 applicants representing more than $105 million in proposed projects. Any for-profit Michigan business with 500 or fewer employees was eligible to apply.
‘We're building on Michigan's long history of manufacturing know-how to position our state as a leader in renewable and alternative energy,’ says Granholm. ‘Our Clean Energy Advanced Manufacturing program will help move Michigan businesses into the clean energy industry, creating hundreds of jobs while helping the nation reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.’
The second-round CEAM award winners include the following:
– URV USA LLC: $4 million ($500,000 loan and $3.5 million grant) to manufacture next-generation, metal cast, utility-scale wind energy system turbine bedplates and hub components;
– Ventower Industries: $3.477 million ($1.227 million loan and $2.25 million grant) to manufacture structural steel towers used to support commercial-sized wind turbines;
– Great Lakes Industry Gear LLC: $2.5 million ($500,000 loan and $2 million grant) to manufacture wind turbine gears and gearboxes; and
– KC Jones Plating Co.: $300,000 ($150,000 loan and $150,000 grant) to apply next-generation surface finishing technology to wind turbine components to improve metal parts resistance to corrosion and decrease wear.
SOURCE: Office of Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm
