Michigan Strategic Outreach & Attraction Reserve (SOAR) / R&D Talent Action Plan

Michigan Strategic Outreach & Attraction Reserve (SOAR) / R&D Talent Action Plan sits under the Michigan Strategic Fund and is delivered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. It is one of Michigan's main business-attraction tools for projects tied to jobs, capital investment, and technology shifts in product or production. The route is a grant-style incentive with awards from $500,000 to $50,000,000 and a median actual award of $5,000,000. Eligibility is limited to for-profit companies with Michigan operations, and the stated focus runs through advanced manufacturing, EVs, batteries, chips, and life sciences. The record puts the TRL band at 5-9 and notes that the same project cannot stack with other support. The program works best for large, deal-driven projects rather than broad competitions. Michigan uses it alongside the Critical Industry Program inside the "Make It in Michigan" strategy, so applicants usually need a concrete relocation, expansion, or retention case with credible capital spend and job creation. Firms that can show execution risk has already been reduced, and that the project is strategically important to the state, are closest to the center of gravity.

No upcoming rounds verified. Cadence: Annual.