Three U.P. businesses named in Top 50

Three Upper Peninsula businesses have been honored for their growth and job creation as part of the 2012 selection for Michigan's Top 50 Companies to Watch.

The statewide list is chosen based on revenue generation and job creation; in total the 50 companies on the list showed a 63 percent revenue increase and a 62 percent job increase. That translated to $1.3 billion in revenue and 735 employees added, along with more than 400 jobs still to be added in 2012.

Delta Manufacturing and Brute Industries of Escanaba, along with Superior Extrusion, Inc. of Gwinn were the three companies from the U.P. on the list.

The awards were announced earlier this year, but the three businesses were honored recently at the Great Lakes Summit on economic development, held in Marquette.

To make the list, companies must be in their second stage of growth, small to mid-size, and besides the jobs and revenue growth, show leadership, strong corporate culture, community support, philanthropy and innovation.

The 50 companies are presented by Michigan Celebrates Small Business, which is supported by the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Small Business Association of Michigan, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Greater Lansing Business Monthly and the Edward Lowe Foundation.

Nominations are still open for next year's Top 50 Companies to Watch for Michigan online here.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Michigan Economic Development Corporation