Lansing Region Particle Accelerator Cluster
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In October 2017 the US Dept. of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded Michigan State University Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED) a grant to research and design a strategic plan that will make the industry a cornerstone of the future economic development efforts in the region. In collaboration, the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) and the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (TCRPC) will provide support and serve on the advisory committee for the project. As such, the MSU CCED will be the lead on the study, conducting an in-depth analysis and developing specific guidance for local private sector leaders, economic development professionals, community planners, educators, policy makers and other key stakeholders in the region on actions likely to increase the region’s job creation and economic benefits from the unique FRIB investment.
In 2022, Michigan State University is scheduled to open the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) on its main campus. By using electromagnetic fields to propel charged particles to nearly light speed and colliding them together, the FRIB will enable scientists to make discoveries about the properties of rare isotopes in order to better understand the physics of nuclei, nuclear astrophysics and fundamental interactions. Additionally, the FRIB will have practical applications for society, including in medicine, homeland security, and industry. By training the next generation of accelerator scientists and engineers to fulfill critical workforce needs in physics and engineering, and also being a point of international scientific interest, the FRIB will have transformative and far-reaching effects on Michigan’s economy, employment, manufacturing, marketing, and quality of life. The Center for Community Economic Development will be monitoring the effects of the FRIB throughout its lifecycle, specifically, its economic impact on Michigan, as well as how the FRIB can be utilized to strengthen the Lansing area through employment and business opportunities.
