aerospace and defense

Why Macomb County?

• 5,490 defense contracts
• $4.3 billion in contracts awarded
• $5.5 billion gross regional product
• Location quotient: 7.2 for Military Armored Vehicle, Tank, and Tank Component Manufacturing
• $25 billion in defense contracts won by 413 Macomb County businesses from 2010-2020.

Workforce snapshot

Important industry data 

• In 2020, nearly 5,490 Department of Defense contracts valued at $3.22 billion were awarded to Macomb companies.
• Macomb’s manufacturers produce an average of $46 billion in goods annually.
• Michigan’s aerospace producers exported goods valued at more than $5.8 billion in 2021.

Programs available for businesses

• Industrial Facility Tax Exemption (PA 198) – provides a tax incentive to manufacturers to enable renovation and expansion of aging facilities, assist in the building of new facilities, and to promote the establishment of high-tech facilities.
• International Landing Zone – housed in the Velocity Center in Sterling Heights, the ILZ is open to international and domestic businesses looking to establish a presence in southeast Michigan.
• Macomb Community College Michigan New Jobs Training Program (MNJTP) –  allows community colleges to provide free training for employers that are creating new jobs and/or expanding operations in Michigan.  The training for the newly hired workers is paid by capturing the state income tax associated with the new employees' wages.
• Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Business Development Program (BDP) – provides grants, loans and other economic assistance to businesses for highly competitive projects in Michigan that create jobs and/or provide investment and results in a net-positive return to Michigan.
• Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (MMTC) I4.0 tech assessment – helps identify technologies that can provide maximum improvements and return on investment.
• St. Clair/Macomb Michigan Works! programs – On-The-Job-Training program offers an incentive to employers for hiring eligible job seekers and providing them new skills training. OJT provides reimbursement to the employer; up to 50% of the new employee’s wages for a designated period. This reimbursement assists in covering some of the extraordinary costs of providing the training.

Industry partners

• Michigan Defense Center – if you’re looking to become cyber compliant, the CyberSmart Defense Cybersecurity Grant Program provides Michigan’s small and medium sized defense contractors a comprehensive one-stop shop to federal cybersecurity compliance. It offers up to $22,500 in grant funding to address any deficiencies in IT infrastructure, and become fully compliant with DoD cybersecurity requirements for all contractors.
• Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) – enhance the national defense strategy and grow Michigan’s economy by assisting Michigan businesses sell their products and services to federal, state and local units of government. Works with businesses to become successful as a defense contractor.

Top companies

• American Rheinmetall
• BAE Systems
• Futuramic Tool & Engineering
• General Dynamic Land Systems
• KUKA Systems
• MB Aerospace
• Model & Tools, Inc.
• RCO Engineering
• Triumph Gear Systems
• Weldaloy Products

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