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State’s Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation outlines programs to boost contractor competitiveness
Summary
The newly announced Michigan Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation described grant, cybersecurity and bid-targeting services and highlighted a Calumet Electronics onshoring project supported with state and federal funds.
LANSING — Colonel John Gutierrez, representing the Michigan Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation (ODAI), briefed the committee on the office’s mission to grow Michigan’s defense and aerospace sectors and to help companies win federal contracts.
“We are focused on supporting the Department of Defense and making our companies…as competitive as we can to compete and win those defense contracts,” Gutierrez told the committee. He said the office’s work rests on three lines of effort: proposal grants and writing services to cover up to 50% or $10,000 for proposal-writing services; a cybersecurity assistance program to help contractors meet Department of Defense cybersecurity compliance (CMMC); and a bid‑targeting system that evaluates and scores opportunities to help smaller companies prioritize federal solicitations.
Gutierrez said Michigan’s defense industry contributes roughly $30 billion to the state economy and supports about 66,000 jobs, with nearly 4,000 defense and 900 aerospace companies in the state. The office also runs outreach events, supplier visits, webinars and a monthly educational series to connect companies with federal contracting opportunities.
As an example, Gutierrez highlighted Calumet Electronics Corporation, which plans a 60,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Calumet Township (Houghton County) to onshore organic substrate production. That project, the office said, could result in capital investment of up to about $50.98 million, retain 269 jobs and upgrade at least 40 positions; MEDC staff said the Michigan Business Development Program committed $7.5 million in a performance-based grant and that the project leveraged Department of Defense Defense Production Act Title III funds.
Gutierrez also described ecosystem and capacity investments including a $1 million investment into the National Guard’s mission training complex and a cybersecurity program that, he said, has helped more than 100 companies pursue CMMC certification.
The committee asked for more detail on how the office will measure success; Gutierrez said the office is codifying a strategic plan, is convening a Michigan Military Advisory Board of retired flag officers and legislative leaders, and plans to pursue university-affiliated research consortia to expand applied defense research capacity.
No committee votes were taken on ODAI matters at the briefing.
