Businesses with technologies that range from fuel cells to transparent armor picked up multimillion-dollar contracts. Most of the local companies are pursuing projects that could have future consumer or commercial appeal beyond military uses.

The president is expected to sign the defense bill, which includes $50 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  
Michigan's share of defense spending, including prime contracts, business development and university research totaled $3.6 billion.

Among the largest local corporate recipients was Adaptive Materials Inc., which stands to pick up a $3.5 million contract to continue developing fuel-cell devices that generate power for other electronic devices.

Aaron Crumm, AMI's founder and president, said the grant will help the company move faster in developing and manufacturing its fuel cell-enabled generator as a power source for troops in the field.

"This money is going to be used to take us to the next level,'' Crumm said, noting that the company plans to ramp up manufacturing to 100 units or more. "Best of all, we've got customers in the military that are asking for more than we can make, which is an interesting experience.''

The company, which employs 33 people, plans to add more employees because of the contract, Crumm said.

AMI is making the device for U.S. Special Operations Command, which runs covert missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. The fuel-cell generators run on butane and propane, the main heating fuels in that part of the world, and can power computers, global positioning systems and other equipment needing a steady supply of energy.

While the funding may help small startup companies, it's only a small percentage compared to the amount going to established contractors.