Appropriations Requests for

• Cosponsoring legislators' names (if applicable):
• Physical address of legislatively directed spending item recipient and the intended location of the project or activity:
  5019 W. Airport Drive, Kincheloe, MI. 49788
• The recipient's employer identification number:
  383009238
• Requested amount of the legislatively directed spending item:
  $2,480,000.00
• What is the purpose and how does the legislatively directed spending item provide a public benefit that is an appropriate use of taxpayer money?
  Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) is requesting funding support to expand the Homestead Mission Operations Center (MOC) in Kincheloe, Michigan through the installation of full duplex S-Band communications capabilities, with an optional expansion of X-band downlink capabilities. Founded in 1977 to manage the former assets of the Kincheloe Air Force Base, CCEDC was created to drive new economic opportunities for the region following the base’s departure. Today, the former base site has evolved into an active air and industrial park, hosting multiple manufacturers and Chippewa County International Airport (CIU)-a critical regional transportation and economic asset. Over the past several years, CCEDC and partners have made substantial investments in developing the Homestead MOC as a unique asset supporting workforce development, advanced modeling and simulation, and space-related mission operations. Current capabilities directly support Lake Superior State University’s Space Certification Program, providing high-fidelity modeling and simulation tools for space vehicles. This proposed project will extend Homestead’s capabilities beyond simulation and training to live spacecraft mission support, enabling the MOC to command on-orbit spacecraft and receive telemetry, and the optional component, receive high-rate payload data via X-band downlink. These upgrades position the Homestead MOC as a competitive mission operations and training facility that contributes to Michigan’s innovation economy while supporting long-term workforce development and regional economic resilience. 2. NEED STATEMENT – REGIONAL IMPORTANCE The Homestead Mission Operations Center has already proven its value as an emerging space and aerospace asset for the region. With past investment and development, it now supports Lake Superior State University’s Space Certification Program, providing high-fidelity modeling and simulation (M&S) capabilities that prepare students and professionals for real-world space mission environments. However, Homestead MOC’s ability to support operational missions is currently limited by the lack of full duplex S-band communications, which are required to: • Send commands to spacecraft (uplink), and • Receive telemetry from spacecraft (downlink). The proposed upgrades will move Homestead from simulation-only capability to a mission-ready operational facility-a major step that enhances Michigan’s space workforce pipeline and increases the region’s competitiveness for aerospace investment and mission partnerships. Additionally, the optional X-band downlink expansion would allow Homestead to receive high-rate payload data, dramatically expanding the facility’s utility for Earth observation, research, and commercial satellite missions. EXPECTED OUTCOMES – IMPACT STATEMENT 2 The Homestead upgrades will be completed over a 12-month period and include the following phases and deliverables: 1. Infrastructure Improvements (Months 1-3) a. Upgrades to Building 435 communications closet b. Fiber network upgrades to support data throughout and operational reliability These upgrades establish the internal backbone for the new RF data-chain. 2. Antenna Refurbishment and Installation (Months 3-6) a. Refurbishment of the 5.5-meter antenna b. Installation onto Building 435 rooftop structure, which has already been installed These components deliver the physical ground station capability required for S-band and X-band operations. 3. RF Modulation/Demodulation Chain Components & Software (Months 6-9) a. Procurement and installation of RF modems and associated signal chain components b. Integration of software for mission operations control and telemetry processing This component enables spacecraft command and telemetry downlink processing. 4. GPS Clock and Data-Chain Hardware/Software (Months 10-12) a. Installation of a GPS-based time reference clock b. Implementation of secure, stable hardware/software to support high-reliability mission operations and data tracking Funding Request Baseline S-Band Full Duplex Data-Chain: $1,187,900 Option for X-band Downlink Data-Chain: $1,292,100 Total Request if Baseline + Option: $2,480,000 7. CONCLUSION For nearly five decades, CCEDC has led the long-term transformation of the former Kincheloe Air Force Base into an active industrial and aviation center supporting manufacturers, logistics, and Chippewa County International Airport. The Homestead Mission Operations Center represents the next chapter in that legacy: a future-ready space operations and workforce development asset with the potential to create new economic opportunities and drive innovation in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. Funding this project will deliver the capabilities for real operational spacecraft command and telemetry support through a full duplex S-band data-chain, with an option to expand to X-band downlink-unlocking broader mission opportunities and positioning Homestead as an important Michigan-based space operations platform. ORGANIZATION CONTACT INFORMATION Chris Olson, President Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation 5019 W. Airport Dr Kincheloe, MI 49788 chrisolson@chippewacountyedc.com (906)495-5631
• Has the legislatively directed spending item previously received or been awarded any of the following types of funding in the past 5 years?
• If so, how?
• Estimated time frame for completion of the legislatively directed spending item project:
  12 month from time funds are received
• 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:
  Don McLean Jeff Hagan Brien Hanna Tony Haller Richard Timmer Rich Brawley Gary McDowell James Parker Tim Ellis

Certification By Sponsoring Legislator