Appropriations Requests for
IQM Research Institute
Posted Friday, February 6, 2026 at 7:03 PM;
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Cosponsoring legislators' names (if applicable):
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Physical address of legislatively directed spending item recipient and the intended location of the project or activity:24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive H-1200 Ann Arbor, MI 48106
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The recipient's employer identification number:1793768
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Requested amount of the legislatively directed spending item:$5,000,000.00
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What is the purpose and how does the legislatively directed spending item provide a public benefit that is an appropriate use of taxpayer money?The underlying objective of the Michigan Artificial Intelligence Hub & Spoke Consortium is to support the AI transformation of the Michigan economy and to create good paying jobs. The Consortium will be composed of Michigan’s Academia, Industry, and State Government entities. A pathfinder process is urgently required to organize the relevant Michigan ecosystem to capture Federal funding and build a long-term workforce capability to support the economy. This effort links Industry, Academia, and Government into an integrated and results-focused approach. The pathfinder is modeled upon successful efforts from other States, including New York, California, and Texas. It allows for clarity on how the funds will be applied within the Michigan ecosystem. Further, the pathfinder includes for an independent group of industrial leaders tasked with informing and accelerating the Hub & Spoke efforts for growth and innovation needs. The Michigan AI Hub will create an AI ecosystem connecting Michigan-based businesses with Michigan-educated experts and upskilling workers to fulfill the increasing demand for a Michigan-based AI workforce. ○ Bridge: Collaborative pathways between Michigan companies that want AI and Michigan AI talent looking for jobs, Michigan AI educational opportunities for existing workers ○ Build: Ongoing local education for existing talent and workforce development to increase new talent ○ Support: Matching grants and incentives to help offset the cost of developing business cases and implementing solutions ○ Promote: Increase visibility for Michigan AI tool and service vendors and highlight success stories to encourage others This project will help the taxpayers in the MI 9th district by building a statewide collaborative effort to further AI investment in the state, including the 9th. Additionally, the 9th district is home to the arsenal of democracy, and having the ability to utilize AI resources for autonomous weapons platforms will be beneficial to these companies as well.
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Has the legislatively directed spending item previously received or been awarded any of the following types of funding in the past 5 years?
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If so, how?
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Estimated time frame for completion of the legislatively directed spending item project:End of FY 26
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Has the nonprofit corporation continuously operated in this state for the preceding 36 months?Yes
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Has the nonprofit corporation had a physical office in this state for not less than the preceding 12 consecutive months?Yes
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Does the nonprofit corporation have a board of directors?Yes
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List all of the officers and active members on the board of directors:Michael Dudzik, IQMRI President James Miles, IQMRI Chief Operating Officer David Fleury, Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Gerald Brennan, Vice President & Chief Legal Officer Maria Thompson, former CEO T/J Technologies, Entrepreneur-in-Resident at Arsenal Venture Partners. Michael Stone, ESQ, Partner Warner, Norcross and Judd Terence Rhodes, former President Mechanical Simulation Corporation
Certification By Sponsoring Legislator
Senator Michael Webber
