From Automotive to Robotics: SBA to Support Michigan’s Economic Transition

--U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA):

WHO:		Karen G. Mills, Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration;
		Event partners, co-hosts, and invited guests

WHAT:		The Michigan Automotive-Robotics Economic Cluster is the first clustering initiative supported by the SBA. It is a unique collaboration among small business owners, academia, industry and government that is designed to foster entrepreneurship, innovation and economic growth.

		The SBA and the Great Lakes Chapter of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), in conjunction with Oakland University, the Department of Defense, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Automation Alley, and the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) are holding a two-day planning workshop to lay the groundwork for a regional economic cluster initiative to stimulate the collaboration of Michigan’s manufacturing industry to produce economic development through commercial innovation. This particular cluster also will help meet the needs of the Department of Defense in the 21^st Century.

WHERE:		Michigan Automotive-Robotics Cluster Initiative Partnership Workshop
		Oakland University, Oakl and Center Bldg., Gold Room – West Campus
		2200 N. Squirrel Road
		Rochester, MI 48309

		For campus map go to http://www4.oakland.edu/Apps/ShowMap.aspx?mapId=1

WHEN:		Tuesday, July 28^th and Wednesday, July 29^th

Media Note:		Michigan media interested in attending should contact Carol Wilkerson at (312) 353-7327 or by email at carol.wilkerson@sba.gov for more information. National media and trade publications may contact Hayley Matz at (202) 205-6948 or by email at hayley.matz@sba.gov.

		General public interested in attending must RSVP by July 24, 2009, to Bob Wilcox at: bob.wilcox@us.army.mil. There is a $20 registration fee to be paid at the door. Space is limited so please RSVP as soon as possible.

Advisory Number: MA09-10