New American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute Coming To Detroit

107,000 square-foot ALMMII facility was previously used as the Mexican Industries headquarters, shown here before renovation. (PRNewsFoto/PM Environmental, Inc.)
107,000 square-foot ALMMII facility was previously used as the Mexican Industries headquarters, shown here before renovation. (Photo: PRNewsFoto/PM Environmental, Inc.)

Posted by Heidi Schwartz

The American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute (ALMMII) recently opened in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, MI. The institute is one of four pilot centers of the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI), a Presidential initiative to enhance the country’s competitiveness. The project will bring new highly skilled jobs to the city of Detroit, revitalize the property and encourage mixed use and sustainable development.

A portion of the amount of money invested in the building was acquired via grant funding through the Michigan Community Revitalization Program (MCRP). The MCRP provides economic assistance in the form grants, loans or other economic assistance up to $10 million to projects that will revitalize properties and encourage mixed use and sustainable development.

PM Environmental, Inc. assembled and submitted an application on behalf of the ALMMII/Corktown project to acquire this funding.  Approval notice came in July 2014, and the $1 million dollar grant was awarded in September. PM also completed environmental due diligence for the project, including a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), Phase II ESA, Baseline Environmental Assessment and Documentation of Due Care Compliance.

“Gaining this tenant for Corktown and Detroit is a huge success for the city,” said Elizabeth Masserang, Brownfield and Economic Incentive Consultant at PM.

The ALMMII facility was previously used as the Mexican Industries headquarters. The company made plastic moldings for the auto industry until it filed for bankruptcy in 2001. The building will now be used as a regional manufacturing hub to transfer innovative lightweight metals from research labs into cars, airplanes and ships for commercial and military applications. The institute will eventually have about two dozen full-time employees.

“None of this would have been possible without the collaborative effort put forth from all involved—the ALMMII, the tenant, West Fort Street Properties, and the owner of the building. I’m really excited to see the funding approved and for the project to come together,” Masserang added.