Lawmaker focused on bringing new jobs to Michigan
State Rep. Donavan McKinney (D-Detroit) speaks on the House Floor.
LANSING, Mich., Aug. 2, 2024 — State Rep. Donavan McKinney (D-Detroit) returned from an investment mission in Europe with Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, which focused on expanding Michigan’s footprint in the aerospace and defense industries, bringing critical jobs and supply chains to the Great Lakes State.
“I am honored to take part in the investment mission with the lieutenant governor and the Michigan delegation. The trip was a learning experience in international relations and global economics — we made some real inroads to build relationships for working together in aerospace, defense and advanced technology,” said McKinney, co-chair of the bipartisan Michigan Legislative Aerospace and Defense Caucus.
The aerospace and defense sector contributes $30 billion in economic activity for Michigan, supporting more than 166,000 jobs and representing nearly 4,000 businesses serving the defense, aerospace and homeland security sectors. Additionally, the Michigan National Guard boasts five major installations and additional armories, including the National All-Domain Training Center in Grayling and one of the largest Air National Guard bases in the country at Selfridge in Macomb County.
“Michigan’s a worthy, smart investment in the future for these industries and our biggest asset is our workers,” McKinney continued. “We made the case that Michigan has a ready workforce for manufacturing and supply chain in aerospace and defense specifically. Since the 1940s, Michigan workers have been leaders in aircraft assembly. We’ve got the talent and expertise needed to expand for the future.”
The economic development mission — which included stops in the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands — was supported by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and the Michigan Economic Development Foundation, an independent not-for-profit organization that serves to help promote and fund economic development efforts in Michigan that create private investments and increase jobs and wages.
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