Beating out Alabama
for high-tech jobs, eh, not hard. Beating out Pennsylvania, respectable. Beating out California, now we're
talking.That's just what Michigan
did this week when BAE Systems announced it would expand its offices in Sterling Heights instead of sending those jobs to sites in the aforementioned states.
BAE Systems plans to convert an existing large industrial property in Sterling Heights into a
state-of-the-art prototyping and test facility. The expansion will create 1,019 jobs over the next 14 years. Of those jobs, 460
will be new engineering and other high-tech work opportunities at the global
defense and aerospace company. The other 559 jobs will be additional spin-off
jobs.
"This expansion shows we have the talent and the tools
needed for companies like BAE Systems to research, develop and manufacture the
next generation of homeland security and defense applications and grow new
high-paying, high-tech jobs in Michigan," says Gov. Jennifer Granholm in a press release.
"We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with BAE Systems to
ensure the company's ongoing success in Michigan."
Helping make this expansion possible is the approval of
$27.1 million in tax breaks and grants over 14 years on the state and local levels.
These tax deals were brokered by the Michigan
Economic Development Corporation.
BAE Systems provides products and services for air, land and
naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions
and customer support services. It employs 97,500 people worldwide.
Source: Michigan
Economic Development Corporation
Writer: Jon Zemke
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