SVSU Wired Grant Primer
What is the Wired grant?
The acronym “Wired” stands for “Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development.” The Wired grant program of the US Department of Labor focuses on increasing economic development opportunities through entrepreneurship. Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) became a Wired grant recipient in 2006, in collaboration with Michgan State University and other partners making up a larger “Mid-Michigan Innovation Team.” SVSU’s new Center for Entrepreneurship and Commercialization (CEC), located in the Center for Business and Economic Development (CBED), will administer nearly $3 million over three years to catalyze job and business opportunities in sectors that have high growth potential.
Who is eligible for services provided by SVSU and its partners under the Wired grant?
SVSU’s Wired service territory includes Bay, Midland, Saginaw , Huron, Sanilac, and Tuscola counties. SVSU also works with the larger 13 county Mid-Michigan area that is also served by the entire group of grantees making up the Mid-Michigan Innovation Team, but less directly. Wired focuses on providing technical and business support for “high expectation” sectors. A Harvard business school study identified four high growth potential clusters as:
- advanced manufacturing,
- medical device manufacturing,
- alternative energy and bio-based technologies, and
- advanced computing and informatics (wireless, encryption, internet security).
These are the primary business sectors supported by the Wired grant. There is also an education component to help cultivate fiscal and entrepreneurial skills in the K-12 system, which will help students in the Saginaw Valley build local high growth and/or sustainable businesses—and grow the local economy at the same time.
What will Wired do for Saginaw Valley entrepreneurs and existing businesses?
SVSU and its eighteen partner organizations will have funding and information/data networks to provide many services to entrepreneurship and diversification in the growth areas identified above. CBED, CEC, and Wired partners are already involved in the following:
- increasing regional business exposure to alternative energy manufacturing opportunities;
- providing incubation services to biobased product and computing ventures;
- supporting the Saginaw Bay Sustainable Business Forum;
- organizing trainings in technology business development fundamentals;
- providing consulting services to help diversify manufacturer’s internal and external client base;
- partially subsidizing testing and business development for bioeconomy and manufacturing innovations; and
- developing on-campus partnerships with science or business experts to develop testing protocols, prototypes, and marketing plans for high-growth ventures.
Where can I learn more about Wired?
Please visit the Department of Labor’s website for the Employment and Training Administration: http://www.doleta.gov/. Soon there will be postings about Wired at the CEC website, at www.svsu.edu/cbed.
| SVSU Partners | Mid-Michigan Innovation Team | |
| Bay Area Chamber of Commerce | Midland Tomorrow | Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce |
| Bay Future, Inc | MiTech+ | Greater Lansing Chamber of Commerce |
| Central Michigan Research Alliance | Saginaw County Business and Education Partnership | Kettering University |
| Delta College Corporate Services | Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce | Lansing Community College |
| MI Small Business & Technology Development Center | Saginaw Future, Inc | Michigan State University |
| Huron County Economic Development Corporation | Saginaw Valley Manufacturers' Association | Michigan Works! |
| Michigan Works! Saginaw Midland Bay | Sanilac County Economic Development Corporation | Mott Community College |
| MidMichigan Innovation Center | Thumb Area Michigan Works! |
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| Midland Area Chamber of Commerce | Tuscola County Economic Development Corporation |
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