Appropriations Requests for

Automation Alley

Posted Friday, February 6, 2026 at 7:03 PM;

Sponsoring legislator

Webber.png
Michael Webber
  • Cosponsoring legislators' names (if applicable):
  • Physical address of legislatively directed spending item recipient and the intended location of the project or activity:
    2675 Bellingham Rd, Troy, MI, 48083
  • The recipient's employer identification number:
    3412779
  • Requested amount of the legislatively directed spending item:
    $5,000,000.00
  • What is the purpose and how does the legislatively directed spending item provide a public benefit that is an appropriate use of taxpayer money?
    1. This request would fund a statewide expansion of Project DIAMOnD®, Michigan’s distributed advanced-manufacturing ecosystem, by scaling four integrated components: (1) Project DIAMOnD Academy (training and credentialing), (2) deployment of 3D printers and related equipment to eligible Michigan organizations, (3) the Project DIAMOnD Marketplace (a secure digital platform that connects Michigan demand to Michigan production capacity), and (4) creation and expansion of regional Digital Transformation Centers (DTCs) as shared-access hubs for equipment, training, and technical assistance. The purpose is to build durable, statewide capacity for advanced manufacturing adoption, workforce development, and supply-chain resilience, especially for small and mid-sized manufacturers and communities that cannot justify these capital and training investments on their own. 2. This spending item provides clear public benefit by: i. Expanding workforce skills statewide through standardized training and hands-on learning via Project DIAMOnD Academy. ii. Increasing small-business competitiveness and productivity by lowering barriers to adopting additive manufacturing and related digital workflows. iii. Strengthening Michigan supply-chain resilience by enabling more parts to be produced locally, faster, and with more redundancy when disruptions occur. iv. Providing shared public-facing digital and physical infrastructure that broadens access to equipment, expertise, and production capacity across geographies, including rural and underserved regions. 3. Taxpayer support is appropriate because the investment is structured to create broad, statewide benefits rather than providing an unrestricted subsidy to any single private entity. Funds would be tied to measurable deliverables, including companies trained, DTC sites established, printers deployed, and Marketplace adoption
  • Has the legislatively directed spending item previously received or been awarded any of the following types of funding in the past 5 years?
    Local Funding
  • If so, how?
    Amount: $27,000,000.00
  • Estimated time frame for completion of the legislatively directed spending item project:
    January of FY 27
  • Has the nonprofit corporation continuously operated in this state for the preceding 36 months?
    Yes
  • Has the nonprofit corporation had a physical office in this state for not less than the preceding 12 consecutive months?
    Yes
  • Does the nonprofit corporation have a board of directors?
    Yes
  • List all of the officers and active members on the board of directors:
    President Kurt Saldana Vice-President Sean Carlson Secretary Rochelle Black Treasurer John Paul Rea Jeff Hall Jeff Abell Tarek Sobh Rosanne Craig Peter Provenzano Gary Krus Tim Finerty Gary Conrad George Stasiw Rodney Rusk

Certification By Sponsoring Legislator

  • "I certify that my immediate family members, legislative staff members, and I have no direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the requested legislatively directed spending item."
  • "I certify that the intended recipient of this legislatively directed spending item is not a for-profit entity."
  • "I certify that the information in this form is true to the best of my knowledge."
  • Senator Michael Webber