Automation Alley asks state for $5 million to scale "Project Diamond" distributed manufacturing network

Tom Kelly, executive director and CEO of Automation Alley, requested $5,000,000 from the state to expand Project Diamond, a distributed additive-manufacturing network now operating in Oakland and Macomb counties, to the rest of Michigan. Kelly described Project Diamond as "distributed independent agile manufacturing on demand," arguing the model lets small manufacturers share industrial-grade 3-D printers and digital services so they can fulfill large orders without investing in costly capital up front.

Project Diamond, Kelly said, already has more than 500 manufacturers on its platform and county investments totaling tens of millions: he told the committee Oakland County has invested $25,000,000 and Macomb County $2,000,000. Kelly said Automation Alley has also secured an $8,000,000 contract to demonstrate surge production capacity for the U.S. Department of War. The $5 million request would buy production-capable printers for small manufacturers, fund Project Diamond Academy training, and establish a second digital transformation center to scale statewide and add roughly 250 manufacturers to the network.

Committee members pressed for specifics on how the $5 million would be used, whether each manufacturer would receive a printer and how the state investment would leverage local and federal funds. Kelly said the award would cover a printer for each participating small manufacturer, training and the second digital transformation center; he framed the request as an infrastructure investment that could support economic resilience and defense readiness across Michigan.

The committee did not take a vote on the request during the hearing. The presentation and questions will be part of the committee's record as staff and members review LDSI proposals during budget deliberations.