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For about a 1% investment of the Federal budget, the State Department yields a large return for the American people by advancing U.S. national security, promoting our economic interests, providing services, and reaffirming our country’s exceptional role in the world. Read on to learn how the work of the Department benefits this state’s residents.

Michigan

• Jobs and Diplomacy

  • In partnership with agencies across the federal government, the Department of State advances U.S. trade policy objectives by opening new export and job opportunities for American businesses and workers through trade initiatives. In Michigan, approximately 271,000 U.S. jobs were supported by goods exports (2014) and foreign direct investment supported about 209,000 U.S. jobs (2013). This resulted in $53.2 billion in goods exports from Michigan (2015). (EB) More»

  • General Motors (headquartered in Detroit) is a founding partner in the Veterans Innovation Fellowship, a partnership between the Office of Global Partnerships at the U.S. Department of State, The Mission Continues, USAID, OPIC, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and several other universities. The partnership offers U.S. citizen veterans of the American armed forces a one-year paid fellowship to gain experience by working in a U.S. government international affairs agency. More information on the partnership is available here. (S/GP)

  • The U.S. Department of State granted $133,000 to Michigan State University in support of research developing new technologies that advance arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament through the Verification Fund. (AVC) More»

  • The National Passport Information Center in Lansing provides convenient “one stop shopping” for general passport information. This includes checking on the status of a pending passport application or making an appointment at any one of the 25 public passport agencies in the network. During the busy spring and summer travel season, NPIC employs more than 500 people and is a significant area employer. (CA) More»

  • The Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs assisted with a contract of $65.3 million awarded by the Colombian Ministry of National Defence to General Dynamics Land Systems for 24 Light Armored Vehicles for the Colombian army. (EB) More»

  • The Department supports the SelectUSA initiative, which facilitated AGS Automotive, a Canadian company’s $21 million investment in Michigan which created or maintained 140 new jobs. SelectUSA is a President Obama initiative that promotes and facilitates investment in the United States as an engine for job growth and economic development. (EB) More»

  • Michigan hosted foreign physicians, teachers, camp counselors, au pairs and others as part of work and study-based international exchange visitor programs. (ECA) More»

  • The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) contributed more than $711,000 to the Michigan economy through contracts and federal grants that directly supported INL missions. (INL) More»

  • The Washington Foreign Press Center hosted 24 journalists on a tour to Detroit to learn about the auto industry and the economy of Michigan. (PA) More»

  • The Bureau of Diplomatic Security provided approximately $97,000 to Michigan-based vendors for procurement of goods and services. (DS) More»

  • Three partnership plans were created under the Small Business Network of the Americas International Sister Center Program with Brazil, Canada, and Jamaica. (WHA) More»

  • Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, a company founded by partners from Michigan and Peru, and SIKA Mexican Arts, a company founded by partners from Michigan and Mexico, were among sixty semi-finalists in the La Idea Business Competition. La Idea is a component of the Small Business Network of the Americas that connects Latin America diaspora in the U.S. with entrepreneurs throughout Latin America to help them cultivate and grow their businesses. (WHA/GP) More»

  • Click here for more information about Department career recruitment events in Michigan. (HR)

• Education

  • 98 Scholars and Students from Michigan were awarded Fulbright Scholarships (ECA) More»

  • Diplomat-in-Residence (Andrew Mann): Diplomats in Residence (DIRs) are career Foreign Service Officers located throughout the U.S. who provide guidance and advice to students, professionals and the community about Department careers. (HR) More»

  • The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs offered Western Michigan University $80,000 in grant funding to train graduate students abroad. (OES)

  • Several academic collaborations - in nursing, transport logistics, general studies - between the University of Michigan and the University of Johannesburg in South Africa. Partnerships with universities abroad help U.S. institutions strengthen their programs, promote opportunities for students and faculty and enhance their global presence. (AF) More»

  • 544 exchange visitors from overseas visited Michigan and 356 Michigan residents travelled overseas as part of the Department’s educational and cultural exchange funded programs. (ECA) More»

  • 109 Michigan families hosted U.S. Government funded international exchange students. (ECA) More»

  • The Office of Global Food Security partnered with Michigan State University as part of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab program, which offers U.S. universities and research institutions the opportunity to tackle global agriculture and food security challenges. (S/GFS) More»

  • The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs awarded Western Michigan University $80,000 in grant funding to train graduate students abroad. (OES) More»

  • 294 Brazilian students attended several educational institutions in Michigan through the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program. This program is funded by the Brazilian government and the private sector and sends 101,000 Brazilian university students of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to study and conduct research abroad. The U.S. is a priority destination for scholarship recipients, and the program strengthens U.S. and Brazilian institutional partnerships, develops a workforce prepared for 21st century opportunities, and contributes to long-term economic growth for both countries. (WHA) More»

  • Medical Education Partnership Initiative Grant: University of Michigan partnership – Ghana Emergency Medicine Collaborative Training Program. (S/GAC) More»

• Partnerships

  • The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) sponsored 32 Mexican officials to attend the American Association of Police Polygraphists Annual Seminar 2015 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (INL) More»

  • Michigan hosted one student from an allied and friendly nation for International Military Education and Training. (PM) More»

  • The Department of State facilitates the Michigan National Guard’s State Partnership Program with Liberia, founded in 2009. (PM) More»

  • The Dow Chemical Company (headquartered in Midland) and the Nature Conservancy (headquartered in Arlington, Virginia) were recognized for their partnership to better recognize, value, and incorporate nature into business decisions, strategies, and goals. The partnership was one of five finalists for the 2^nd annual P3 Impact Award. The P3 Impact Award was presented at the Concordia Summit in September 2014 by the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Global Partnerships, the University of Virginia Darden School of Business Institute for Business in Society, and Concordia. The award recognizes public-private partnerships (P3s) that are improving communities and the world in the most impactful ways, seeking to highlight best practices and actionable insights in the P3 arena. More information on the P3 Impact Award can be found here and the five 2015 finalists here. (S/GP)

  • Refugee Arrivals in 2015: 2,714. The Department works with nine domestic nongovernmental organizations, which place refugees in over 300 affiliated offices in roughly 180 communities around the country. These local offices work closely with community partners, congregations, volunteers, and state and local officials to provide a successful start for refugees rebuilding their lives. Refugee communities have historically enhanced the economic dynamism and cultural vitality of our nation. Refugees contribute to the United States in numerous ways, including by starting businesses and joining the U.S. military. (PRM) More»

  • The Department of State facilitates the Michigan National Guard State Partnership Program with Latvia founded in 1993. (PM) More»

  • The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs partnered with Michigan Tech Research Institute to provide expertise on glacier systems in Chile for improving understanding of the contribution of glaciers to available water resources. (OES) More»

  • The University of Michigan Law School’s Human Trafficking Clinic received $300,000 to increase legal representation for trafficking victims in Mexico. (J/TIP) More»

• Travel and Security

  • Total Passports Issued in Fiscal Year 2015: 333,115. (CA) More»

  • The Detroit Passport Center, the National Passport Information Center employ 270 government and 13 contract staff. (CA) More»

  • Passport Application Acceptance Facilities: 375. (CA) More»

  • Number of overseas adoptions for Michigan families in Fiscal Year 2014: 171. The Office of Children's Issues plays an active role in the intercountry adoption process. Its work is dedicated to assisting parents as they seek to provide a home to orphans abroad. (CA) More»

  • Diplomatic Security Chicago Field Office serves Michigan: Diplomatic Security has offices throughout the United States staffed with special agents and contract investigators, who conduct criminal, counterterrorism and background investigations. Agents assigned to field and resident offices assist in providing support to the protection of the Secretary of State, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and visiting foreign dignitaries. Liaison with federal and local law enforcement, foreign mission personnel, local officials, and the private sector complements their major responsibilities. More»