New Saab HQ in Royal Oak tops MEDC deals list

Monday, April 5, 2010 | Source: metromode
An impressive list of companies are investing in Metro Detroit after the latest round of tax deals from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. At the top of that list is a car company moving to Metro Detroit, for a change.

It's now a done deal. Saab Cars North America is setting up its headquarters in Royal Oak. Metromode first reported the pending move to an innovatively renovated office space on the city's north side last fall.

The Swedish automaker is moving into the home of Ronnisch Construction Group, 4327 Delemere Court between 14 Mile and Normandy Roads. Ronnisch turned a dumpy old industrial building overlooking railroad tracks into 13,300 square feet of modern, edgy office space. That attracted Saab, which will invest $2.4 million to move its marketing, sales and product evaluation arms (60 jobs) into the building. The MEDC approved a $1.2 million tax break over five years to give Royal Oak the edge over a competing site on the East Coast.

Among the other job-creating, investment-generating deals announced are:

- Ash Stevens, a life sciences research and development firm, plans to use a $14.9 million investment to expand its Riverview facility and create 60 new jobs. That money, plus the $710,019 state tax credit over seven years that comes with it, will allow the company to continue its research into cancer drugs and other similar markets.

- Materialise USA will invest $12.5 million into its Plymouth facility to create 80 new jobs. The subsidiary of the Belgian-based firm of the same name specializes in three-dimensional medical image processing. It will develop software applications used in surgery and other medical applications at this site instead of another place in Indiana thanks to a $563,119 state tax credit over seven years.

- Auburn Hills-based Oasis Advanced Engineering, a software firm, will use a $1.4 million state tax credit over seven years to expand its military research and development operations. The company will invest $7.5 million to amp up its development of software and embedded electronics for military combat vehicles. It will also establish a production capability for switchable vision blocks for current and future force military vehicles and for the design and fabrication of training devices for the Army and National Guard. The company plans to create 100 new jobs here instead of at a competing site in Florida.

- RECARO North America, an automotive firm, will invest $6 million to consolidate some of its operations from China to Auburn Hills. The MEDC gave a $519,000 state tax credit over five years for the company to retain 69 jobs.

- ADCO Products will create 212 new jobs and invest $17.3 million to consolidate its operations in Leoni Township, which is just east of Jackson. ADCO manufactures sealants and adhesives for the roofing, transportation, construction and solar markets. The company is using its $1.2 million tax credit over five years to further expand into the solar panel market here instead of in Indiana.

- Masco also plans to consolidate the retail and manufacturing operations of its cabinetry arm in Ann Arbor. It's a $20.6 million investment that is expected to create 250 jobs over the next 10 years.

In total, the MEDC announced 13 deals that will help 11 companies grow and another two brownfield construction projects move forward. Those deals are expected to create 2,790 new jobs and spur $742.4 million in new investment across the state.

Source: Michigan Economic Development Corp
Writer: Jon Zemke
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Automotive, Energy, Government, Investment, Oakland County, Renewable Energy, Software Design, Wayne County 

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