Biden introduces Michigan Maritime Manufacturing Initiative

will invest in training the workforce in Michigan to boost American submarine production

The United States nuclear submarine force and the industrial base partners that help deliver and sustain this capability are fundamental to our national security mission. However, America’s submarine industry is constrained by significant labor needs. The Biden-Harris administration is making strategic investments in Michigan to accommodate a fivefold increase in the Navy’s submarine production as part of a national economic and defense policy initiative. These investments are essential to protecting the national security of the United States, supporting our commitment to AUKUS partners, and re-establishing America’s maritime industry as a global leader in submarine construction.

The state of Michigan has had manufacturing in its DNA since the turn of the 20th century^th Century. Michigan’s workers, unions and businesses, who shaped this country’s transportation and automobile revolution, are uniquely positioned to meet the tremendous need to build and sustain our submarine fleet.

Today, the Biden-Harris administration, the U.S. Navy and the State of Michigan announced Michigan Maritime Manufacturing (M³) Initiative. M³ will build a skilled workforce and programs to meet our nation’s need for over one hundred thousand new workers in the submarine and maritime industries over the next decade. This initiative will connect American workers to high-paying jobs earlier in their careers and implement training programs that provide the speed and scalability needed to fill the industry’s manufacturing and engineering gaps.

Rebuilding American manufacturing

Them³ The partnership will connect the Department of Defense (DoD), state and local governments, tier-one and tier-two defense industrial companies, and academic organizations across the state of Michigan. The Navy and DoD are in the process of integrating key components of their industrial workforce development programs, projects, and investments into the M.³ Initiative in addition to the near-term investments of over $50 million invested in Michigan’s infrastructure, programs and advanced manufacturing technology. These early efforts include:

• $16 million will be used this fall to implement an accelerated training program in welding and computer-numerical control (CNC) machining, creating a maritime-focused pool of skilled workers aimed at meeting the labor needs of hundreds of Michigan suppliers.
• $2 million for education and engagement programs in Michigan elementary schools to stimulate interest in manufacturing careers and demonstrate career pathways to good maritime-focused jobs.
• $750,000 is earmarked for collaboration with veteran placement agencies and the Department of Labor’s Veteran Employment and Training Service (VETS) programs to support veterans who return to Michigan each year to join the submarine and maritime sector as another way to serve their country.
• $4.5 million for Project MFG activities, including expansion to Michigan. The Department of Defense’s premier advanced manufacturing skills competition will serve as a catalyst for training the next generation of highly skilled professionals in Michigan through the national championships in machining and welding, as well as the new Maritime Series competitions beginning this fall.
• Up to $10.75 million over five years in ACENet to build a novel and growing national hub-and-spoke network of advanced machining training centers that create asynchronous pathways to train users on computer-aided design (CAD)/computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) platforms.
• $3 million for an attraction and recruitment campaign focusing on Michigan’s rich manufacturing history. This targeted recruitment initiative builds on the successful Built to Last campaign, which has attracted more than 8 million people to BuildSubmarines.com since September 2023.

These initiatives aim to take a phased and aggressive approach to maximize the throughput of skilled trades apprentices by both expanding and filling skilled trades pipelines and programs at the state level. The education initiatives will leverage existing facilities at Macomb Community College and others to provide a continuous talent pool to boost the local economy and America’s industrial base. The Navy, in coordination with scaling partners, will play an active role in tailoring skilled trades apprenticeship programs to meet industry workforce needs, and graduates of these programs will be offered job opportunities with suppliers upon completion of their training.

Strengthening American capabilities in underground and advanced manufacturing

The undersea domain provides strategic advantages of stealth, surprise, and survivability, allowing the U.S. Navy to maintain a decisive edge over potential threats. Our submarines and growing unmanned underwater vehicle capacity provide unparalleled reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and covert attack capabilities critical to deterring aggression and ensuring freedom of the seas. As rival nations invest heavily in their own undersea assets, the United States must continue to innovate and produce its undersea warfare force at scale to maintain maritime dominance and ensure national security. The Biden-Harris Administration, in partnership with the State of Michigan, is pleased to announce the M³Initiative to combat this growing threat and restore American supremacy on the world’s oceans by reinvesting and dramatically increasing American manufacturing capacity and promoting technological innovation.