LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Corrections has begun production on a new red, white, and blue license plate commemorating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence, with manufacturing underway at Gus Harrison Correctional Facility.
The new plate is part of Michigan’s “legacy” license plate line, reviving historic designs for modern use. This version draws direct inspiration from the 1976 bicentennial plate issued during America’s 200th birthday, leaning heavily into patriotic imagery as the nation approaches its semiquincentennial in 2026.
All Michigan license plates are produced through Michigan State Industries, a division of the Michigan Department of Corrections that has operated the state’s plate factory since 1943. The Adrian facility produces more than 1.5 million license plates annually for Michigan drivers.
Orders for the new 250th anniversary plate opened January 2. According to MDOC, more than 2,500 Michigan drivers have already placed orders, signaling strong early demand for the patriotic design.
MDOC Director Heidi E. Washington said the plate serves a dual purpose, celebrating national history while continuing the department’s long-running inmate work programs.
“MSI has been efficiently and effectively producing quality license plates for Michiganders for decades,” Washington said. “This patriotic plate celebrates our country’s semiquincentennial while providing incarcerated individuals with real-world manufacturing skills that translate into employment opportunities after release.”
Individuals working in the license plate operation receive hands-on training in machine operation, equipment maintenance, inventory management, shipping and receiving, forklift operation, silkscreen processing, and computer design. MDOC officials say the program plays a role in lowering recidivism, which the department reports is currently at a historic low of 21%.
Michigan drivers can order the new legacy plate online through Michigan.gov/SOS, when purchasing a vehicle at a dealership, or by visiting a Secretary of State office.
Michigan State Industries operates under the Correctional Industries Act of 1968 and is authorized to manufacture and sell goods and services to nonprofit organizations, government agencies, the federal government, and tribal nations.
As the country approaches its 250th birthday, Michigan’s newest license plate puts a familiar, old-school patriotic design back on the road, this time produced inside a prison system that state officials say is focused on job training and post-release employment, not just punishment.
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- NMD Staff
Staff@NewMediaDetroit.com