Press Release

U.S. Economic Development Administration Invests $750,000 to Help Establish Advanced Energy Innovation Center in Detroit, Michigan

Contact: Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
Friday, September 14, 2012

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) today announced a $750,000 grant to the NextEnergy Center in Detroit, Michigan, to help establish an Innovation Center to support the commercialization of advanced energy technologies. The investment will retain 75 jobs and create an additional 250 new jobs, according to grantee estimates.

"The Obama administration is committed to promoting the development of job-creating industries in the alternative energy sector," said Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Matt Erskine. "This grant will help NextEnergy commercialize products that are at the forefront of next-generation vehicle charging systems and create jobs in Detroit."

The EDA investment leverages the existing infrastructure at NextEnergy, as well as commitments from other stakeholders, to create an Innovation Center to accelerate the commercialization of advanced energy technology in southeast Michigan. Michigan's advanced energy cluster will benefit from the center's testing platform for renewable energy and energy storage technology and the application of these technologies to the electrification of vehicles.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.