A German firm that trains people from around the world how to work on large-scale diesel engines is taking over a 30,000-square-foot building in Canton and bringing at least 700 trainees to town each year.
"This will generate over 2,000 hotel room nights with people coming here to train," says Kristen Thomas, economic development and marketing analyst for Canton. "They'll visit our restaurants, our shops. It's great for Canton."
The
Tognum AG facility will open in a vacant building in the Executive Park on Executive Drive near Canton's busy Michigan Avenue and Lilley intersection. The company, formerly known locally as Detroit Diesel, signed a 10-year lease and will use it to teach trainees how to maintain and service diesel engines on ferry boats, military ships and more. Trainees will include members of the US Army, Thomas says.
There will be five full-time employees, she adds.
The facility, which is just over 30,000 square feet, is being renovated and will open in August, Thomas says. The city granted the company a 50 percent tax abatement on the project.
Source: Kristen Thomas, economic development and marketing analyst for the city of CantonWriter: Kim North Shine
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