As a testament to continual innovation in the sciences,
Valicor, a business focusing on fluid separation and purification technologies, environmental services, and research and development on renewables such as algae oil, ethanol, and corn oil, has moved across the street to a new national headquarters in Dexter. The 36,000 sq. ft. building, at 7400 Newman Blvd., has triple the floor space of Valicor's former headquarters.
"Every five years or so we outgrow a building," says Martin Rodriguezacosta, program coordinator at Valicor. The firm employs about 250 people nationwide, with 40 of them in Dexter, he says.
In keeping with the reuse and recycling mission of its business, the company completely renovated the space using recycled office equipment, carpeting made with recycled material, and a geothermal system for heating and cooling.
The project was made possible with assistance from
Ann Arbor SPARK, which helped Valicor to secure more than $3.5 million in incentives from Scio Township. Valicor is investing $5 million in the project and adding 16 new jobs locally, mainly in research and chemical engineering, according to SPARK.
"Not only have we been able to continue to add jobs throughout the economic slump – we've been able to do it nationwide, but in particular our own backyard in Michigan...we didn't lose anyone during that time," Rodriguezacosta says.
Sources: Martin Rodriguezacosta, program coordinator at Valicor; Ann Arbor SPARK
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
Note: This article was amended to reflect a correction in employee headcount.
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.