The Scope - Defense manufacturing finding a home in Michigan

Michigan’s defense industry

• Contributes $30 billion in economic activity
• Supports more than 116,000 Michigan jobs
• More than 4,000 businesses engaged in defense and aerospace work

Military vehicle production

• #1 for military vehicle production in the U.S.
• Home to some of the nation’s largest ground vehicle defense companies and U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) major entities such as General Dynamics Land Systems, BAE Systems, GE Aviation, GM Defense, and AM General

Michigan aerospace industry

• Ranks within the Top 10 in the nation for aerospace manufacturing attractiveness
• The University of Michigan has the nation’s No. 3 ranked undergraduate aerospace engineering program
• Orbion Space Technology – through an ongoing partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), including capital grants for workforce expansion and communication initiatives distributing Orbion’s value proposition to the market, has made plasma propulsion systems more affordable, accessible to more companies

National Guard

• Five major installations and additional armories, including the National All-Domain Training Center in Grayling
• One of the largest Air National Guard bases in the nation at Selfridge, Macomb County

Advanced manufacturing workforce

• 6th largest in the country
• More than 62,800 workers employed in 2023

Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) survey

MEDC survey measured sentiments surrounding America’s key industries and workforce development.

• Which American industries are most important to America’s long-term economic success?
• #3: Aerospace and defense

Courtesy of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, https://www.michiganbusiness.org