Macomb Next

2023 NACo Achievement Award Winner

Macomb County, Mich., MI

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About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

Macomb Next is Macomb County’s gateway into the next industrial revolution. Funded through a grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), the goal of Macomb Next is to create an awareness of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) programs available to businesses. The Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development (MCPED) is committed to companies of all types to expand their use of Industry 4.0 technologies through various awareness campaigns showcasing Industry 4.0 in action and workshops. MCPED developed a website and a marketing campaign to alert local businesses to I4.0 opportunities. With the help of our partners, MCPED assesses local companies to determine their I4.0 readiness. With the help of state grant assistance, MCPED held one workshop in 2021, another in 2022, and is holding five workshops in 2023 covering a range of topics related to the nine pillars: cybersecurity, augmented and virtual reality, big data and analytics, advanced robotics and automation, additive manufacturing, system integration, advanced simulation, cloud computing and the Internet of Things. State funding also provides grant monies for small businesses to purchase I4.0 technology. The program has been so successful that four more workshops will be held in 2024.