New Michigan Central Innovation District Puts the State at the Forefront of an Inclusive EV Mobility Future

Exciting Michigan mobility news as Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined leadership from Ford Motor Co., Google, and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan to announce a new partnership to attract and retain highly skilled talent and high-growth companies with the new Michigan Central Innovation District.

Anchored by the iconic Michigan Central Train Station, the district will serve as a globally recognized hub for talent, mobility innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and other community benefits.

Google is also joining Ford as a Founding Member of the district, where it will mentor entrepreneurs and local businesses, and develop the workforce in Detroit. As one of the largest and most influential tech companies in the world, Google’s continued support and presence in the state signals that Michigan is the high-tech innovation hub where companies of all sizes need to be.

“Only a few short years ago, I announced Ford’s investment in Detroit because I believed in a vision that reimagined the iconic Michigan Central train station and surrounding area as a place of possibility again,” said Bill Ford, Executive Chair, Ford Motor Company. “Today’s announcements reflect our commitment to that vision, attracting the best and the brightest to come together to solve some of the world’s toughest challenges. The arrival of Google as a founding partner is exactly the kind of investment and progress I knew was possible to revitalize our hometown. And I could not be more pleased that the City of Detroit and the State of Michigan are also joining us in this ambitious effort. I know it is only the beginning of what we can achieve together.”

The state's pledge involves a cross-departmental collaboration that will focus on initiatives supporting economic development, workforce development, community development, and a Transportation Innovation Zone with support from the city of Detroit.

Ford’s years of investment within southeast Michigan have been committed to electrifying the future of mobility in Michigan, including its new global battery center of excellence, Ford Ion Park, in Romulus, as well as Ford’s plan to invest $250 million and create 450 more jobs across three of its Michigan facilities.

Today's news comes days after General Motors announced a historic $7 billion investment that will make Michigan it’s home for creating an all-electric future, and builds on a series of recent EV and semiconductor investments, including Stellantis’ Mack Avenue and Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit, XL Fleet’s Electrification Technology Center in Wixom, SK Siltron’s new semiconductor wafer manufacturing facility in Monitor Township, KLA’s semiconductor R&D headquarters in Ann Arbor and more.

From attracting transformational investments in Michigan’s advanced manufacturing and skilled trades workforce, to serving as an incubator for global companies and entrepreneurs creating a more inclusive mobility future, it’s clear that Michigan remains a leader in bringing the next generation of mobility and transportation to life.

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