Granholm Announces Over 4,000 New Jobs Planned for Michigan

LANSING -- Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is helping seven companies grow in Michigan and is backing four brownfield redevelopment projects.  Combined, the 11 projects are expected to create 4,024 new jobs, retain 61 jobs and generate over $130 million in new investment in the state. 

"We are working everyday to bring new jobs to Michigan, going anywhere and doing anything to show companies that we have the tools and talent to help them grow," Granholm said. "The companies making announcements today, from a global automotive supplier locating its first U.S. engineering center here to an iron castings company expanding in the wind energy sector, highlight the impact of our aggressive economic diversification plan."

 "Successful collaboration and teamwork between the state and our economic development partners were keys in bringing these projects to Michigan against some very intense national and international competition," MEDC President and CEO James C. Epolito said. "I applaud all of the communities who stepped up to the plate and helped us make the strongest business cases possible."   

The four Oakland County projects announced today are:

• CareTech Solutions, Inc. -- The provider of information technology services to the health care industry plans to invest approximately $28 million to expand its headquarters and build a new data center in Troy. The expansion is expected to create 838 new Michigan jobs, including 440 directly by the company.  Based on the MEDC's recommendation, the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) board today approved a state tax credit valued at $7.8 million over 10 years to help convince the company to expand in Michigan over a competing site in Ohio. Oakland County is considering job training funding to support the project.

• Pulte Homes, Inc. -- The Michigan-based company, one of the nation's largest homebuilding companies with operations in 50 markets and 27 states, plans to invest approximately $10 million to expand operations in Oakland County. The project, which involves creating a national financial services center to consolidate much of the company's accounting back office functions into one location, is expected to create up to 682 new Michigan jobs, including as many as 350 directly by the company over the next several years.  Based on the MEDC's recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at approximately $10.1 million over 12 years to help convince the company to bring the project to Michigan over competing sites in other states.  Oakland County Michigan Works has proposed providing employee training to support the project. In addition, the MEDC is considering up to $100,000 through the Economic Development Job Training program.

• ESI North America, Inc. -- The leading engineering software and services provider for the simulation of prototype and manufacturing processes plans to invest approximately $4.4 million to expand operations at their site in Bloomfield Hills and eventually relocate to a larger facility within Oakland County. The company, ESI North America, uses realistic material physics to provide "as good as real" virtual solutions, in order to replace the lengthy trial and error processes on real prototypes. The company's growth plan is targeted on expanding outside of the automotive industry, and into the aerospace, solar energy, fuel cell and nuclear markets. The proposed expansion is expected to create 226 new Michigan jobs, including 110 directly associated with the company.  Based on the MEDC's recommendation, the MEGA board approved a state tax credit valued at $2.8 million on Monday, November 24th.   The tax credit was a major factor in convincing the company to expand in Michigan, rather than a competing site in Alabama. In addition, Oakland County is considering providing job training funding to support the project. The MEDC is also offering additional job training funds of up to $50,000 through the Economic Development Job Training program.

• Howa USA Holdings, Inc. -- The Japan-based company specializing in the development, production and sales of automotive interior products plans to invest approximately $712,000 in a new R&D center in Novi. The R&D center will be the Howa Group's first engineering facility in the U.S. and will also serve as Howa USA's headquarters. Granholm met with company executives in Japan during her investment mission to the country in September to encourage them to expand in Michigan. The project is expected to create 52 new Michigan jobs, including 25 directly by the company.  Based on the MEDC's recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at $457,000 over seven years.  Oakland County has proposed job training assistance to support the project.

In her 2008 State of the State address, Granholm emphasized the importance of creating opportunity in the changing world of the 21st century.  Since January 2005, the governor and the MEDC have announced the creation or retention of more than 290,000 jobs as a result of targeted assistance provided by the MEDC.   

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation, a partnership between the state and local communities, promotes smart economic growth by developing strategies and providing services to create and retain good jobs and a high quality of life.  For more information on the MEDC's initiatives and programs, visit the Web site at www.TheMEDC.org.