Opinion | Michigan will get ‘ship’ done under new maritime manufacturing initiative

Here in Michigan, we make stuff. Whether it’s ships, semiconductor chips, or potato chips, we have the grit and know-how to produce anything America needs. Our auto industry is number one, we are in the top 10 in the nation for Registered Apprenticeships and we are a national leader in defense. 

We’re glad the Department of Defense agrees and has demonstrated its confidence in our abilities by partnering with the state on the Michigan Maritime Manufacturing, or M3, Initiative. Recently announced by Gov. Whitmer, the M3 Initiative is a more than $50 million partnership aimed at building a workforce ready to lead the future of defense manufacturing.

As education and labor leaders in Southeast Michigan, we could not be more excited about this initiative because it means two big things for our state: more STEM education and skilled training programs and more good-paying middle-class jobs.

The M3 Initiative will leverage the state’s organized labor, educational institutions like Macomb Community College and rich industrial history. It will send a message to Navy and automotive suppliers across the nation to set up shop here in Michigan, creating thousands of jobs across the Great Lakes region to meet the Department of Defense’s increasing maritime demand.

To meet this demand, under the M3 Initiative, Michigan will train workers to build submarines, focusing on maritime welding and machining, at our local community colleges. It will implement new pipelines and programs that include partnering with Michigan Works!, workforce boards, local community colleges, the Michigan AFL-CIO’s Workforce Development Institute and economic development organizations so we can accelerate training curricula focused on maritime welding and machining.

In addition to establishing and expanding trades training pipelines, this partnership will make investments to build pathways for students that provide a stream of interactions with STEM and manufacturing education to generate interest in technical skills and increase awareness of naval manufacturing careers with K-12 students.

In the words of Governor Whitmer, we’ve been getting “ship” done in Michigan for generations, and our strong defense industry results from our can-do attitude. In the Civil War area, Michiganders mined 90% of the copper to make buttons, canteens, cannons, and, of course, ships. During World War II, Michiganders rolled up their sleeves again to build ships, bombers, jeeps, and everything in between. 

Defense manufacturing is in our roots. It’s part of what makes Michigan, Michigan. It drives $30 billion in economic activity, supporting more than 166,000 jobs and nearly 4,000 businesses. We make more military vehicles than anyone.

The M3 Initiative will ensure that we remain a leader in defense manufacturing while creating new education opportunities and jobs for Michiganders. Together, we will build the cars, chips and ships that America needs.