At 2017 North American International Auto Show, Detroit leaders kick off activities welcoming STEM nonprofit to the Motor City.
FIRST® Championship Detroit is a thrilling four-day competition and expo where more than 30,000 attendees will cheer on students ages 6-18 as they participate in game-format challenges with their custom-built robots. As a hub for STEM innovation, thanks in large part to the automotive industry, Detroit is well-positioned to host this global event beginning in 2018. The 2018 event will take place April 25-28 with activities at both Cobo Center and Ford Field.
There are currently 60 FIRST® teams in the city Detroit and nearly 1700 in the state of Michigan. Historically, FIRST® Championship has made a $30 million economic impact on its host city.* /At today’s event, Larry Alexander president and CEO of Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau invited Gov. Snyder, Morris, and Kamen to the stage to address a crowd of nearly 300 people about the impact of FIRST on the city. “[Our support of FIRST® ] is not a donation. It is an investment in our future,” said Morris.
“It’s crucial to our success, and that of the auto industry – locally and across the country – to attract more STEM-focused students to our workforce in the years to come. That’s why we at GM encourage and challenge our colleagues in this industry, whether other OEMs or suppliers from all tiers, to support FIRST® .”