UM-Flint Gets $40M to Train Workers for Tomorrow's Jobs

Flint is building its future one classroom at a time, and the blueprint just got a whole lot bigger.

The University of Michigan-Flint received approval for $40 million to construct Phase 2 of its College of Innovation & Technology complex. The new 40,000-square-foot building will open in 2028 and focus on teaching skills in clean energy, robotics, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality.

"It's really a statement that Flint can prepare people for the next generation of work," said Chris Pearson, dean of the College of Innovation & Technology.

The state of Michigan will cover about $30 million of the cost, with the university funding the rest. Phase 1 of the project is already nearly complete and will open by fall 2026, funded through federal grants and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.

The new building won't look like traditional classrooms. It will feature an open-concept "mega lab" where students from different programs can work together on real-world projects, plus advanced labs and collaboration spaces designed for hands-on learning.

Industry partnerships shaped every detail of the expansion. Local companies worked with the university to ensure students learn exactly what employers need, creating a direct pipeline from classroom to career.

The College of Innovation & Technology launched just five years ago in 2020 and has already seen rapid enrollment growth. Students aren't just learning theory; they're solving actual business challenges for regional companies while still in school.

The Ripple Effect

This investment reaches far beyond campus boundaries. When students graduate ready to work in emerging fields, local companies can grow and innovate without leaving the region.

Flint companies are already looking to UM-Flint as their go-to partner for solving technical challenges. That means more jobs staying local, more innovation happening in Michigan, and more reasons for graduates to build their careers close to home.

The facility also signals a shift in how Flint sees itself. A city once defined by industrial decline is now positioning itself as a hub for next-generation technology and skilled workers.

"This campus is committed to being an engine for the city and the region," Pearson said. "We want Flint to be known not just for its history, but for what it's building next."

By 2028, Flint will have a $55 million innovation complex training hundreds of students each year in the technologies reshaping our world, and that's a future worth celebrating.