TROY – Automation Alley is leading the charge to keep the Defense Department from closing The Detroit Arsenal, home to the Tank-Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center, as well as the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command.
The Detroit Arsenal employs more than 4,000 people and generates approximately $300 million in annual payroll. The facility is currently under review for closure by the DOD.
Automation Alley was joined in a Monday morning press conference by the Detroit Regional Chamber, Focus: HOPE, and the Macomb Foundation.
“In order for the United States to continue to maintain a state-of-the-art military, with technology that saves the lives of our soldiers, it is essential that facilities such as the Detroit Arsenal remain open,” said Tom Anderson, director, Automation Alley Technology Center. “This is an example of a regional collaboration that is making an extremely important impact on the national level.”
According to the agreement, signed by Ken Rogers, executive director, Automation Alley, Richard Blouse, Jr., president and CEO, Detroit Regional Chamber, Eleanor Josaitis, CEO and co-founder, Focus: HOPE, and Margaret Mazzara, president, Macomb Foundation: “Hundreds of local businesses and educational organizations work closely with the Arsenal and its various components on a daily and sometimes exclusive basis. The Arsenal has been retrofitting hundreds of Humvees for Iraq, developed a mobile parts hospital with Focus: HOPE, and developed a roving inspection system in a third of the typical military development time.” Examples of local companies that have interacted with the Arsenal include Altair Engineering, Delphi, JADI, Inc., Pursuit Technology and Technical Products Group.
To-date, the Detroit Arsenal has been responsible for contributing more than $6.5 billion in military contracts within and outside of the Southeast Michigan region,
