Real World Deployment and Test Site Grant Opportunities

The Michigan Mobility Funding Platform grants for Real World Deployments and Test Site are designed to accelerate investment in mobility and electrification solutions

How Funds Will Be Awarded 

Grants deployed via MMFP are awarded after a standardized application, review, and selection process. This process includes standard application, internal review to ensure projects meet minimum qualifications, external reviews by a minimum of 10 industry experts including scoring in 6 categories and open-ended feedback, and finally, a final selection committee comprised of members of various Michigan State Agencies (MEDC, LEO, MDOT, etc.).

The six categories applications will be scored on are:

  • Eligibility – Pass/Fail
  • Proposed Project – 20 Points
  • Project Team & Partners – 20 Points
  • Technology and Interoperability – 20 Points
  • Project Costs – 5 Points
  • Industry Matching Funds & In-Kind Contributions – 5 Points
  • Financial Sustainability – 10 Points
  • State Mobility Plan Alignment – 10 Points
  • Overall Project Quality – 10 Points

Full Scoring Methodology – 100 Points Total

Timeline

2026 Round 1

  • Monday, January 26, 2026 — Application Opens (available for 30 days)
  • Friday, February 27, 2026 — Applications for Round 1 no longer accepted 
    • The application will not close but any applications submitted past 11:59 pm on Friday, February 27 will be considered during Round 2
  • Thursday, March 26, 2026 — Selections and Notifications Made

2026 Round 2

  • Friday, May 15 — Applications Closed 
  • Friday, June 12 — Selections and Notifications Made

 

Information Sessions 

We are unable to take calls with individual companies about this grant program. In lieu of one-on-one calls, the following information sessions will be hosted.

Please register using the link(s) below.

Learn more from our information session presentation and Frequently Asked Questions document for this program. 

Preparing for your Application

Required for your application:

  • A minimum of one Michigan-based project partner. Partner(s) can include municipalities, state agencies, test sites, Michigan-based companies or organizations
  • Letter(s) of Commitment and/or Letter(s) of Support from project partners including but not limited to test sites. You may also optionally include Letter(s) of Commitment and/or Letter(s) of Support from partners on previous projects
  • Matching funds information including partner financial contributions to the project as well as in-kind contributions
  • The lead applicant (organization submitting application) should be a technology provider not a municipality, university, test site, incubator or accelerator
  • Company W9

 

Qualified Projects

Test site grants will be deployed to mobility and transportation innovation projects partnering with one of nine pre-approved closed test sites in the state and real-world deployment grants are defined as being any project in a public space and partnering with municipalities and/or state agencies.

 

Test Site Deployments and Real-World Deployments Defined 

The funding available for the pilot program ranges from $50,000 to $500,000 per project. We retain the flexibility to disperse several smaller awards for various small-scale pilots, or grant a single, larger award up to the maximum amount for a pilot that successfully meets all the outlined requirements.

Test Site Projects

  • Grants may range from $50,000 - $500,000 per project
    • Test site projects are typically awarded $50,000 – $150,000 on average
  • Test site grants can be deployed to mobility projects partnering with one of our pre-approved closed environment test sites in the state, sites include:
    • Advanced Power Systems (APS) Labs at Michigan Technological University
    • American Center for Mobility (ACM)
    • Detroit Smart Parking Lab (DSPL)
    • Gerald R. Ford Airport's Ford Launchpad for Innovation Technology and Entrepreneurship (FLITE)
    • Great Lakes Research Center at Michigan Technological University
    • Kettering Mobility Research Center
    • The Keweenaw Research Center at Michigan Technological University
    • Mcity at the University of Michigan
    • MSU Mobility
    • The Transportation Innovation Zone (City of Detroit)
    • Urban Tech Xchange 

No other test sites will be approved for this round of funding.

 

Real-World Deployment Grants 

  • Any project in a public space and partnering with municipalities and/or state agencies.
  • Grants ranging from $50,000 - $500,000 per project
    • Real World Deployments are typically awarded at $150,000 - $250,000 on average


Desired Outcomes

Grant recipients (beneficiaries) will be required to report on a quarterly basis both financial obligations and expenses as well as key performance indicators. These key performance indicators may include:

  • Total Number of businesses served
  • Number of businesses served by program activities 
  • Number of businesses served for the first time by network services/referrals
  • Number of Minority-Owned Businesses served
  • New partnership starts
  • Loans, venture, angel or other financial investments obtained (“facilitated industry investment”)
  • Jobs retained / created
  • Company growth including but not limited to increased revenue / facilitated revenue
  • And other factors as determined by the OFME

Terms and Conditions 

Authorization: I confirm that I am authorized by my company to execute this application and agreement and agree that the company and its representatives will adhere to all of the terms and conditions set forth in this application and agreement. These include, but are not limited to, providing the MEDC with all results from approved activities for documentation and success tracking purposes. I certify on behalf of the company that all of the documents submitted, and information contained in this application and accompanying documents are true and accurate.

FOIA: All information submitted in connection with or included in any Michigan Mobillity Funding Platform application, may be subject to disclosure under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.

Indemnification: Company hereby agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless MEDC, OFME, NextEnergy, and their respective affiliates, officers, directors, executive committee, managers, members, employees, contractors, subcontractors and agents --the “Indemnified Parties”-- from any and all claims, demands, suits, causes of action, damages, costs, obligations, losses, settlements and judgments, including without limitation attorney’s fees and costs --a “Claim”-- in whole or part arising out of or in any way connected with the Pilot Project (including infringement Claims).

Compliance with Law: Company represents and warrants that Company will comply with all federal, state, and local laws requiring any licenses, business permits, and certificates required to carry out the Project and Company will obtain and maintain those permits, certificates and/or licenses through the Term. Company represents and warrants that that Company and Company's employees and contract personnel shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and executive orders. Company represents that it is knowledgeable about, will keep up to date with, and will ensure that Company and Company’s employees and contract employees comply with, all applicable executive orders issued by the Governor of the State of Michigan.

Insurance: Applicants should be prepared to carry up to $5M general liability insurance during the deployment.

 

APPLY HERE

Contact

If you have questions about this grant, please contact:

Janine Robar
Mobility Innovation Associate Director
[email protected]

Media inquiries:
Please visit the MEDC Media Room