LANSING ? Life Sciences start ups in Michigan will get $30 million from the Michigan Technology Tri-Corridor this fiscal year, but funding for Homeland Security technology and Advanced Automotive Manufacturing technology has yet to be determined.

The news came as MichBio, the state Life Sciences trade association, released a statement Monday saying Gov. Jennifer Granholm and the Michigan legislature had approved $30 million for the current fiscal year ? starting Oct. 1 ? double the $15 million allocated in the previous fiscal year.

Last year, the state also gave $10 million to auto and homeland technology, money that came directly from the Michigan Economic Development Corp’s budget. This year, MEDC spokeswoman Susan McCormick said the MEDC doesn?t have any funding available – at least for now – for non-life sciences start ups.

?We?ll look into creative ways to fund the other two sectors,?? she said. ?There?s also a lot of cross over among all three sectors. There are lots of federal dollars available for homeland security because of recent events.?

MichBio Executive Director Michael Witt said the governor this year recognized how important Life Sciences are to Michigan?s economic future. Last year Witt and other officials of the Life Sciences industry were critical of the governor?s move to give funding to other industry sectors.

Originally, former Gov. John Engler had allocated $50 million a year to the Life Sciences Fund to pump into fledgling Life Sciences companies. Granholm was forced to cut that figure due to the state budget crunch. But then she decided to provide money for homeland and auto technology, which had not been funded before.

Between 2000 and 2004, the Life Sciences Corridor Fund and Technology Tri-Corridor Fund had allocated more than $200 million through 118 awards to Michigan life sciences companies. This year Witt said he wasn’t sure how many companies might receive funding, but it could be double the 26 that won awards last spring.

?We?re pleased to have the governor?s continued support for Life Sciences,?? Witt said. ?We?re going to continue to make sure her trust and the taxpayer?s trust is well placed.?

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