Macomb County’s hometown airbase will now be a leader for research and strategic planning in an ongoing effort to protect our borders and freedoms.
According to U.S. Senator Gary Peters’ office, $3 million in funds have been secured to operate a Northern Border Coordination Center at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base.
“The federal funding I secured to establish a Northern Border Coordination Center will help the Department of Homeland Security prioritize the needs of the Northern Border and build on the critical role Selfridge Air National Guard Base plays in protecting our nation,” said Senator Peters in his press release. “The funding will help coordinate border security efforts across the Northern Border, and support personnel training and high-tech border security technology testing. I’ll continue working to ensure that Michigan and assets like Selfridge remain at the forefront of our nation’s homeland and national security missions.”
The Selfridge Air National Guard Base is a US-based military installation located in Harrison Township, Macomb County. Established in 1917 as Selfridge Field, the base is 5,000 personnel-strong and acts as a vibrant community asset. Selfridge has a $850 million economic impact on the County and is home to the 127th Wing, Michigan Air National Guard among many other military units.
With continued investment and support from the state and unrivaled base capabilities, Selfridge remains a key factor in solidifying the County’s reputation as Michigan’s Defense Capital.
The defense capital of Michigan
Operating as the state’s epicenter of the defense industry, Macomb County is home to dynamic and advanced military installations like Selfridge and the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Command (TACOM) center. Located here are also 1,136 aerospace and defense companies that employ 38,785 people. Macomb County has seen a $6.2 billion economic impact in this trade, as well as a 100% growth in defense jobs since 2010. As of today, 41,000 civilian and military personnel help make the things "that protect those who protect us."
In 2023 alone:
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Six out of 10 federal defense contracts won by companies statewide were located in Macomb.
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Overall, companies in the County were awarded 4,813 defense contracts.
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This led to a total of $3.56 billion in contracts awarded.
Macomb County continues to support the defense community in any way it can:
- The Selfridge Sustainability Study (S3) is set to address compatibility planning for the base and its surrounding Macomb County communities.
- In tandem, the Public-Public, Public-Private Partnerships (P4) Agreement will promote innovative and collaborative partnerships and will address initiatives approved for pursuit under Selfridge’s Air Force Community Partnership Program, including a Selfridge indoor firing range, a campground and a golf course, among other items.
- In 2022, Macomb County Planning and Economic Development partnered on the Detroit Arsenal Regional Defense Assessment of Resilience (DAR2) study. Funded through a grant from the federal Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC), its focus was identifying vulnerabilities across southeastern Michigan and its defense communities. Following workshops, interviews and other initiatives, a report was released that discussed infrastructure interdependencies, common problems, threats and solutions in the region.
- In 2023, the Macomb County Public Works Office helped manage a drain project that improved upon pilot safety at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base. By excavating the banks of the channel along M-59/Rosso Highway, they were able to prevent extended periods of high water levels that would otherwise create a bird habitat that could pose a danger to inbound and outbound aircrafts.
With multiple projects and services still underway in the County, it’s no surprise that many in the defense community have made Macomb their home.
Aerospace and defense
