Legislative Analysis
Phone: (517) 373-8080
UPDATE REFERENCES TO APEX ACCELERATORS
http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa
Senate Bill 481 as reported from House committee
Analysis available at
Sponsor: Sen. Veronica Klinefelt http://www.legislature.mi.gov
House Committee: Economic Development and Small Business
Senate Committee: Economic and Community Development
Complete to 11-13-24
SUMMARY:
Senate Bill 481 would amend 2006 PA 317 to reflect the renaming of procurement technical
assistance centers (PTACs) as APEX Accelerators.
The act establishes the Michigan Defense Center, 1 originally the Defense Contract
Coordination Center, in the Michigan Strategic Fund as part of the 21st Century Jobs Trust
Fund. The office’s purpose is to focus on job creation and retention from business opportunities
associated with the PTAC for homeland security and defense contracts, and it must coordinate
with PTACs in Michigan to maximize those business opportunities for the state’s small
businesses and small business innovation research programs.
The bill would amend the act to reference APEX Accelerators rather than PTACs in order to
align with recent updates to the federal APEX Accelerator program (see Background, below).
MCL 125.1972
BACKGROUND:
Congress established the Procurement Technical Assistance Program in 1985 to support
businesses in the defense contracting industry. 2 The program recently transitioned from the
Defense Logistics Agency to the Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs
and was renamed the APEX Accelerators program, beginning with the 2023 fiscal year.
There are currently ten APEX Accelerators located in Michigan, which facilitate participation
in federal, state, and local defense contracts. 3
BRIEF DISCUSSION:
According to House committee testimony, Senate Bill 481 makes a technical change to align
Michigan statute with the federal APEX Accelerator program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Senate Bill 481 would not have a fiscal impact on any units of state or local government.
1
The center was renamed as the Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation in April 2024. See:
https://www.michiganbusiness.org/press-releases/2024/04/office-of-defense-and-aerospace-innovation/.
2
https://www.apexaccelerators.us/#/about-us.
3
https://www.miapex.org/offices/.
House Fiscal Agency Page 1 of 2
POSITIONS:
Representatives of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation testified in support of
the bill. (6-11-24)
Legislative Analyst: Holly Kuhn
Fiscal Analyst: Marcus Coffin
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their
deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
House Fiscal Agency SB 481 as reported Page 2 of 2


Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 125.1972
As Passed by the Senate: 125.1972