MEDC approves brownfield projects, plans to create 1,500 jobs

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation approved 10 brownfield projects that are expected to create 1,500 jobs and help seven companies invest $254 million.

The projects include the normal automotive-centric projects and an IT center development in Detroit. The idea behind the tax credits is to turn some of the state's brown fields into viable commercial spaces available for investment and job creation. Michigan's definition of brown fields ranges from polluted land to obsolete buildings.

The Metro Detroit projects include:

  • Ohio Module Manufacturing Co. taking over ArvinMeritor's Southwest Detroit plant, saving 200 jobs that manufacture complete chassis modules for the Jeep Wrangler. The Toledo-based company plans to invest $21.4 million into the facility.
  • Detroit-based Strategic Staffing Solutions plans to spend $7.3 million to open a new IT center in the Motor City. That deal is expected to create 437 jobs.  
  • Williams International expects to invest $12 million to update its Commerce Township facility so it can build small gas turbine engines for military, industrial, and commercial aircraft applications
  • The transformation of the old Ford Wixom plant received a big boost with $137 million in tax credits over 20 years. Clairvoyant Energy Solar Panel Manufacturing and Xtreme Power plan to turn the facility into an alternative energy manufacturing base that will create 3,250 jobs as part of an $856 million project.

Source: Michigan Economic Development Corp
Writer: Jon Zemke
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