MACKINAC ISLAND (WKZO) -- Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman Bill Ford addressed the audience at the Mackinac Policy Conference and unveiled two programs to help inventors.

The Motor City Innovation Exchange is a partnership between Ford Motor Company, Wayne State University's Tech Town, AutoHarvest and Tech Shop Detroit.  Inventors will get help in bringing their ideas to the public.

The other initiative is called the Jump Start Program that focuses on business growth for entrepreneurs.  Ford also said his company is continuing research and development of "green" technologies with new electric vehicles and battery innovation.