University of Michigan Economic Growth Institute

What University of Michigan Economic Growth Institute does

The University of Michigan Economic Growth Institute (EGI) is a university-affiliated economic development institute headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, providing no-cost technical assistance, grant administration, and workforce programming to small and mid-sized manufacturers and to communities, primarily in Michigan and the broader Great Lakes region. Founded in 1982/1984, EGI operates with approximately 25–30 staff supplemented by University of Michigan student researchers, and reports a cumulative track record of 531 companies served and 1,194 projects at a 94% success rate, with an 18X ROI claim tied to its Defense Manufacturing Assistance Program (DMAP).

EGI's portfolio spans several program lines: the Michigan Manufacturing Assistance Program (which includes Lean Sigma and operational improvement services), the Defense Manufacturing Assistance Program, MAST-P (aerospace, defense, and EV-facing supply chain support), employee ownership transition services, defense cybersecurity compliance (CMMC and NIST 800-171), and EV workforce resources including the 2026 EV Workforce Portal and a June 2025 EV Hiring Guide co-developed with MxD. The Michigan Defense Resource Center (MDRC) consolidates defense supply chain work.

The business model is grant-funded rather than revenue-generating: EGI does not charge clients for qualifying services and instead derives operating resources from federal and state grants, including the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), and other public sources. Its core partners include the Detroit Regional Partnership, regional planning bodies, and industry associations such as MAG, while its primary go-to-market motion is direct engagement with manufacturers and communities, often routed through partner referrals.

Name

University of Michigan Economic Growth Institute

Legal name

The Regents of the University of Michigan

Website

https://economicgrowth.umich.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The University of Michigan Economic Growth Institute is a university-affiliated, grant-funded economic development organization that delivers no-cost technical assistance, manufacturing support, and workforce programs to small and mid-sized manufacturers and communities in Michigan and the Great Lakes region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Access & EdTech for Equity (Low-cost Learning, Skills Platforms) (BPAGALAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technical Enablement & Adoption Services (Change Management, Adoption, Champions) (BPAEANAC)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Manufacturing technical assistance
• Defense supply chain support
• Workforce development programs
• Community economic resilience

Headquarters

HQ city

Ann Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Federal and State Grant Funding: EGI operates as a University of Michigan institute funded primarily through federal grants from the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Economic Development Administration, and state funding from MEDC. Programs provide free technical assistance to qualifying manufacturers and communities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

EGI leverages University of Michigan research, faculty expertise, and grant-funded resources to deliver technical assistance, training, compliance support, and strategic planning services to small and medium-sized manufacturers, defense supply chain companies, and communities across Michigan and the Great Lakes region. Core offerings span mobility supply chain transformation, defense manufacturing resiliency, trade adjustment, EV and clean energy diversification, cybersecurity, employee ownership succession, and economic impact analysis.

Product overview

The Economic Growth Institute (EGI) operates as a portfolio of interconnected economic development programs rather than a single unified product. The core offerings include the Advanced Mobility Supply Chain Transformation Center (STC) for EV transition, Michigan Defense Resiliency Consortium (MDRC) for defense manufacturing, and Great Lakes Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (GLTAAC) for import-impacted manufacturers. Supporting programs include the Michigan Auto Supplier Transition Program (MAST-P), Industrial Training and Assessment Center (ITAC), Advanced Manufacturing Cybersecurity Program, Broad Based Employee Ownership, Decision Coach, MiVTTP, Innovation Services, and Economic Impact Analysis. These programs share a common methodology of providing technical assistance, matching funds, and strategic guidance to small and medium-sized manufacturers and communities, with a focus on Michigan's automotive, manufacturing, and defense sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Advanced Mobility Supply Chain Transformation Center (STC): Program supporting small- to medium-sized manufacturers in the greater Detroit region in their transformation into the future of mobility.
• Michigan Defense Resiliency Consortium (MDRC)
• Great Lakes Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (GLTAAC)
• Michigan Auto Supplier Transition Program (MAST-P)
• Industrial Training and Assessment Center (ITAC)
• MiVTTP

Products and services

• Advanced Mobility Supply Chain Transformation Center (STC) Supports small- to medium-sized manufacturers in the Greater Detroit region in their transformation into the future of mobility through capacity building, co-funding, and technical assistance.
• Industrial Training and Assessment Center (ITAC) Empowers auto manufacturers with a DOE-funded Diversification Playbook to help small and medium-sized manufacturers repurpose capabilities for EV and clean energy markets through no-cost technical assessments.
• Michigan Auto Supplier Transition Program (MAST-P) Helps small manufacturers with fewer than 10 employees explore new opportunities, strengthen operations, and diversify into growing industries including aerospace, defense, electric vehicles, and clean energy at no cost.
• Michigan Defense Resiliency Consortium (MDRC) Supports Michigan's small manufacturers and their communities through technical assistance, technology acceleration, workforce development, and company assistance to advance manufacturing and strengthen national security in energy storage and battery manufacturing.
• Great Lakes Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (GLTAAC) Assists small manufacturers in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana that have been directly hurt by imports, providing up to $75,000 in matching funds to improve global competitiveness.
• Advanced Manufacturing Cybersecurity Program (AMCP) Cybersecurity training program that takes learners from beginner to cybersecurity professional with specific knowledge of manufacturing in less than a year, combining online instruction and hands-on learning.
• Broad Based Employee Ownership Succession planning initiative that helps business owners evaluate Employee Ownership as a viable succession mechanism, including online courses and the Business Transition Blueprint tool.
• Decision Coach Certification Strategic partnership with Allovance offering workshops to develop Decision Coaches who help organizations eliminate decision biases and achieve strategic goals using the Allovance method. Certification fee is $5,000 one-time.
• MiVTTP (Michigan Vehicle Technology Transition Impact Project) Conducts listening sessions to help local workers and economies adapt to the automotive industry's transition to electric vehicles, developing community-based action plans and workforce solutions.
• Economic Impact Analysis Uses IMPLAN economic modeling software to analyze potential economic impacts of changes to local economies, providing direct, indirect, and induced level analysis for communities and policy decisions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% project success rate over 10 years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Detroit Regional PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2022Detroit Regional Partnership is leading the Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant ($52.2M) with EGI as a key partner supporting mobility and electrification projects in Southeast Michigan.
• Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (MMTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMMTC supports the Global Epicenter of Mobility (GEM) initiative as part of the Supply Chain Transformation Center program, providing technical assistance for advanced mobility supply chain transformation.
• Techtown DetroitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner in GEM initiative collaborating on advanced mobility industry development across Southeast Michigan.
• SEMCA Michigan Works!coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development partner in GEM initiative supporting mobility talent development and job training programs.
• Michigan Office of Future Mobility & ElectrificationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner in GEM initiative providing policy support and resources for electric vehicle and mobility industry growth.
• Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMEDC administers the federal small business initiative funding MAST-P program that EGI delivers to small Michigan manufacturers.
• Michigan Clean CitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Michigan Clean Cities (MICC) for MiVTTP project conducting listening sessions and providing strategic planning for EV transition communities.
• Michigan State University (MSU) Industrial Training and Assessment CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSU ITAC helps small and medium-sized US manufacturers save energy, improve productivity, and reduce waste through no-cost technical assessments. Partner in DOE-funded Diversification Playbook program.
• Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates Defense Hardtech Accelerator (DHA) Program helping DoD identify and assist companies with promising technologies for domestic product development and manufacturing.
• MxD LearnsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMxD Learn provides workforce training programs for defense and EV manufacturing through MDRC workforce development pillar.
• SAE InternationalsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAE International supports workforce development for defense manufacturing through MDRC consortium.
• AllovancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovative strategic partnership to launch Decision Coach workshops and certification program using the Allovance decision-making methodology.
• MxD (Manufacturing x Digital)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEGI and MxD collaborated on the Electric Vehicle Hiring Guide, a comprehensive resource outlining 170 critical EV manufacturing roles, funded by Department of Defense.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (MMTC): Michigan-based MEP-affiliated nonprofit providing technical assistance to small and medium manufacturers. MMTC is an active EGI consortium partner on the STC/GEM initiative and serves an overlapping client base.
• Detroit Regional Partnership: Lead organization on the $52.2M Build Back Better Regional Challenge with EGI as a key partner. Both organizations drive regional economic development in Southeast Michigan with overlapping mobility and electrification agendas.
• Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University: University-based accelerator operating the Defense Hardtech Accelerator (DHA) program alongside EGI. Both organizations bridge university research with SMB manufacturers in Michigan's defense and mobility sectors.
• MxD (Manufacturing x Digital): National manufacturing innovation center collaborating with EGI on the EV Hiring Guide and MDRC workforce development. MxD is a DoD-funded manufacturing partner with overlapping EV and defense programs.
• Michigan State University Product Center: University-based center providing business assistance, market research, and commercialization support to Michigan food, agriculture, and manufacturing entrepreneurs. Operates as a direct peer to EGI's Innovation Services and community programs.
• Michigan Clean Cities: Coalition partner delivering the MiVTTP EV transition program alongside EGI. Both organizations deliver listening sessions, community planning, and educational content for Michigan's EV transition, making them operational peers.

Broad incumbents

• Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC): State agency administering federal pass-through funding that EGI relies on (MAST-P, MEDC programs). MEDC is a core funder and partner but also a substitute for some of EGI's economic development services.
• NIST Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP): National network of MEP centers funded by NIST/DOC. EGI partners with the network through MMTC and MSU ITAC, and MEP establishes the federal policy and funding context for EGI's programs.

Regional players

• Purdue University Manufacturing Extension Partnership: University-based MEP center delivering technical assistance to Indiana manufacturers. Operates as a regional peer to EGI's GLTAAC program and DOE-funded ITAC activities in a different geographic territory.

Emerging players

• Center for Automotive Research: Ann Arbor-based nonprofit research organization focused on the future of mobility. Shares EGI's Southeast Michigan automotive transition focus and serves as a research and policy peer for STC-related programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTfsnQocF3r3TzsItcrefiA
• Facebookfacebook.com/UofMEGI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/economic-growth-institute

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of Michigan Economic Growth Institute