Program aims to help struggling automotive suppliers

A $9.25 million partnership was announced designed to help southeast Michigan auto suppliers shift their business focus and struggling startups get a push in a recessionary economy.

According to a report in the Detroit Free Press, the partnership was unveiled by the New Economy Initiative for Southeastern Michigan and the Kansas City, Mo.-based Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

About 150 suppliers will be consultation over a 3-year period by Kauffman’s Urban Entrepreneurship Partnership to help shift their business into aerospace, alternative energy, medical devices, military and homeland security.

The partnership also will bring Kauffman’s FastTrac program to Detroit to train about 800 people a year. The program takes unemployed or underemployed people through intensive 3- to 10-week sessions.