As part of a regional campaign to significantly grow the technology sector in west Michigan, Grand Valley State University is pursuing an important project: Blue Dot – the Center for Talent, Technology and Transformation. This center is envisioned to support the intersection of technology, digital literacy, and connections within the business community, providing unique learning spaces that do not exist elsewhere on campus. 

The Blue Dot project is founded on a vision of creating proficiency in digital skills, catalyzing the highest forms of cooperation between GVSU and the community. Beyond a downtown Epicenter, the philosophy of the Blue Dot project will inform and inspire the whole campus community, leading to increased experience- and project-based learning for students, affording more solutions to critical problems for employers, and supporting the regional economic development and economic transition as we migrate from an industrial to a digital and AI economy.

During fall 2022, President Mantella created a new working group to start with past iterations of the Blue Dot initiative and create an updated proposal that includes program, space, tech/equipment, design, and other recommendations. Updates will be posted to this website. In addition, the Blue Dot project is included in the new GVSU master facilities plan.

In late 2023, the State of Michigan pledged $30 million towards Blue Dot facilities.

The Blue Dot project is currently led by Ed Aboufadel (Office of the Provost) and Karen Ingle (Facilities Planning). They oversee the Project Team, who are faculty and staff currently involved in the project.