BAE Systems will break ground today on a new $58 million engineering center at the former TRW Automotive site in Sterling Heights. BAE razed a building on the 80-acre site and plans to construct a 50,000-square-foot prototype shop to replace it by July 2010. BAE will also build a 150,000-square-foot, four-story office building by 2011. The facility will include a test track for combat and tactical vehicles.

The project is expected to create 460 new engineering and high-tech jobs at the company and an additional 559 spin-off jobs over the next 14 years. Assistance provided by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) helped convince the company to choose Michigan for the expansion over competing sites in Alabama, Pennsylvania and California.

This expansion shows we have the talent and the tools needed for companies like BAE Systems to research, develop and manufacture the next generation of homeland security and defense applications and grow new high-paying, high-tech jobs in Michigan. Initiatives like the MEDC’s Defense Contract Coordinating Center and other efforts underscore the steps we’re taking to diversify our economy. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with BAE Systems to ensure the company’s ongoing success in Michigan.

Tagged as: defense contracting, Economic Growth, homeland security and defense, manufacturing diversification

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