Washington, DC – An annual Department of Defense appropriations bill that is set to be approved by both the House and Senate this week contains millions of dollars in project monies for five local companies and Central Michigan University, according to U.S. Rep. Dave Camp (R-Midland). The House is expected to clear the 2007 spending bill today, with the Senate acting later in the week. The bill is expected to be singed into law by the President.
“Our local companies and universities are providing the nation with some of the most advanced research and products available,” said Camp. “These projects are helping the Department of Defense execute its mission today and ensure our military remains the most elite fighting force in the world.”
Funding totals for 2007, prior Department of Defense monies, and project details follow.
Bates Footwear (Big Rapids, MI): Bates Footwear, a U.S. manufacturer, will receive $1 million to continue research and development of a boot that meets the needs of our Special Forces. Currently, mountain and cold weather boots for Special Forces are inadequate in terms of design, performance, durability and compatibility requirements for varied extreme conditions. Additionally, these boots are often of made by foreign companies. This funding is in addition to $1 million in federal funds Bates received in 2006.
Central Michigan University (Mt. Pleasant, MI): CMU will receive $1.3 million to develop new nanotechnologies through their Dendrimer Enhanced Water Remediation (DEWR) program that will allow the selective removal of contaminants for use as materials in water filtration. The DEWR program will be conducted by CMU Research Corporation (CMURC) and Dendritic Nanotechnologies (DNT). This is the first year of federal funding for the project under the Department of Defense.
Dow Corning Corporation (Midland, MI): Dow Corning has been awarded $5.2 million to continue development of new technologies to manufacture Wide-Band Gap (WBG) semiconductor materials. Currently, Dow Corning produces 3” to 4” diameter semiconductor substrates, but there is strong interest for larger-diameter WBG materials in the Navy. This larger material is necessary for more secure satellites and communications. Dow Corning received $4.5 million in 2004 and $5.6 million in 2005.
ECD Ovonics (Southfield, MI): ECD Ovonics, the parent company of UnitedSolar in Greenville, Michigan, will receive $2.2 million to build on funding provided last year to help DOD develop technologies to store hydrogen in a solid state for use in combat vehicles. The US Army, through TARDEC and the National Automotive Center, has a strong interest in developing hydrogen-based alternative energy technologies for both vehicles and the “21st Century Military Base.” This multi-year project will demonstrate the advantages of safe, low-pressure compact hydrogen storage, as well as testing integration of such a system with an advanced metal hydride fuel cell. ECD Ovonics received $2.1 million in 2005.
Michigan Molecular Institute (Midland, MI): MMI has been awarded $400,000 to continue to develop their renewable nanotechnology, which is assisting DOD and DHS find next generation solutions including biological and chemical detection and decontamination. MMI received $2 million in 2005 and $400,000 in 2006.
Pilgrim Technology (Midland, MI): Pilgrim Technology will receive $1 million to further develop a Mobile Secure Wireless Sensor Technology project that allows Army mechanics in the field to monitor the operating status of every vehicle, and will be able to proactively order necessary parts. This will keep the unit free of duplicate parts, and will lessen the time the vehicle is down for diagnosis. This is in addition to the $1 million received by Pilgrim Technologies in 2005.
###
