ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) – The federal government has awarded $8 million for an effort to assist communities in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana affected by defense industry downsizing.

The University of Michigan announced Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment is supporting work by the Institute for Research on Labor, Employment and the Economy. It follows an earlier pilot project.

The school, Ohio State University and Purdue University have designed and started to implement programs tailored to more than 40 companies and seven communities. The new funds will support the schools’ two-year project to target 72 communities and companies.

A goal of the Defense Manufacturing Assistance Program is to help companies and communities become more resilient and attract new work so they’re less dependent on the defense industry.