Look at the actions of the MEGA board today and you will see much to counter what passes for expert opinion. The day’s agenda promises more than $550 million in new investment and the creation of more than 2,850 jobs in our state.
More interesting, though, is that these jobs will take hold in a mix of our heritage and new technology assets.
One of our state’s historic economic mainstays, Dow Chemical, is investing $100 million to expand its automotive filter production facilities in Midland. A German auto supplier, MS Automotive, is building its new North American headquarters and manufacturing center in Fowlerville. Unified Brands, a manufacturer of restaurant equipment, is relocating its Arizona operations to one in Weidman.
So far the news doesn’t look so different from the Michigan we’ve always known. But wait, as the TV says, there’s more.
We also sealed agreements with three tech companies set to grow in the Ann Arbor area. Accuri Cytometers, a 21st Century Jobs Fund competition award-winner for commercialization of its cell analysis tool, chose Michigan over an offer from Colorado. Danotek, a leader in renewable energy manufacturing, is expanding here and adding jobs. Pro-Quest, a start-up in Michigan during World War II and a worldwide leader today, chose to expand here instead of consolidating in Maryland where its new parent company is headquartered.
Add to these large scale job creators a number of brownfield redevelopments in Detroit and Dearborn and you can see the new shape of Michigan’s future. As we leverage our past, we are drawing new business from other states and writing a new chapter with significant advances in new tech sectors.
Read more on all of the December MEGA deals
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