{"id":163831,"date":"2025-09-03T16:00:37","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T20:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.nmc.edu\/?p=163831"},"modified":"2026-03-10T09:57:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T13:57:58","slug":"freshwater-research-innovation-center-on-grand-traverse-bay-to-break-ground-sept-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.nmc.edu\/?p=163831","title":{"rendered":"Freshwater Research & Innovation Center on Grand Traverse Bay breaks ground"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"FreshwaterTRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Regional and state leaders will gather Friday, Sept. 12 to break ground on the Freshwater Research & Innovation Center, a landmark project establishing Northern Michigan as the epicenter of water innovation and a globally relevant hub for the blue economy.<\/p>\n

The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at 13240 S. West Bay Shore Drive, the future site of the center on Discovery Pier’s campus.<\/p>\n

The $28.9 million project is a collaborative effort of Discovery Pier, Northwestern Michigan College, Traverse Connect, Michigan Technological University, and 20Fathoms. By co-locating working pier space, advanced laboratories, and business incubation under one roof, the center will serve as the home for water technology and marine mobility, where ideas become solutions, technologies become ventures, and opportunities become careers.<\/p>\n

“The Freshwater Research & Innovation Center is not only a Michigan asset, it’s a global platform for blue tech innovation,” said the center’s Board Chair Greg Luyt. “We invite companies, researchers, and funders from around the world to join us as we move ideas from lab to market, build the workforce of tomorrow, and protect our freshwater resources for future generations through innovation.”<\/p>\n

The 38,000-square-foot facility will feature advanced laboratories, business incubation space, and working pier access for research vessels. Areas of focus include autonomous and remote systems, AI, acoustic and observation platforms, water quality technologies, and sustainable marine mobility.<\/p>\n

“Traverse Connect is proud to help launch a center that will put Michigan on the map for blue tech investment,” said Warren Call, president and CEO of Traverse Connect. “By combining world-class research with entrepreneurial support, the Freshwater Research & Innovation Center will develop and attract companies and capital, creating jobs and driving economic growth across the region.”<\/p>\n

The project has already secured more than $26 million in commitments from federal, state, and private funders, with fundraising ongoing. Once complete, the center is expected to draw national and international tenants, create high-wage jobs, and generate research with global applications.<\/p>\n

About the Freshwater Research & Innovation Center<\/strong>
The Freshwater Research & Innovation Center is a joint venture of Discovery Pier and Northwestern Michigan College with support from Traverse Connect, Michigan Technological University, and 20Fathoms. Located on Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City, Mich., the center will serve as the epicenter of water innovation by connecting education, research, industry, and community for sustainable growth in the blue tech sector. Visit <\/span>freshwatercenter.org<\/a> to learn more.<\/p>\n

Release date: September 3, 2025<\/h3>\n

For more information:<\/h2>\n

Cari Noga
NMC Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu<\/a>
(231) 392-1800 (Call or text)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Non-Discrimination Policy Notice<\/h3>\n
Northwestern Michigan College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, height, weight, marital status or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. nmc.edu\/non-discrimination<\/a><\/address>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Regional and state leaders will gather Friday, Sept. 12 to break ground on the Freshwater Research & Innovation Center, a landmark project establishing Northern Michigan as the epicenter of water innovation and a globally relevant hub for the blue economy. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at 13240 S. West Bay Shore […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[68],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-163831","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-intercom"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFreshwater Research & Innovation Center on Grand Traverse Bay breaks ground - NMC Communiqu\u00e9<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.nmc.edu\/?p=163831\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Freshwater Research & Innovation Center on Grand Traverse Bay breaks ground - NMC Communiqu\u00e9\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Regional and state leaders will gather Friday, Sept. 12 to break ground on the Freshwater Research & Innovation Center, a landmark project establishing Northern Michigan as the epicenter of water innovation and a globally relevant hub for the blue economy. 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