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Forging Ahead

By Greg Main
President & CEO,
Michigan Economic Development Corp.
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Michigan recently was one of only a handful of states to win a coveted Silver Shovel, an award presented annually to states that have achieved significant success in terms of job creation and economic development.

The award is further evidence that our aggressive economic diversification plan is working, enabling us to successfully compete against other states and countries for new jobs and new investment.

Area Development magazine polled states about their top 10 job creation and investment projects for 2009. Only those projects that began to materialize that year, either through money being spent or shovels put in the ground, were considered. The magazine recognized states based on the number of high value-added jobs per capita, amount of investment, number of new facilities and industry diversity. Michigan was recognized along with Florida and Texas in the “over 10 million population” category.

In its description of the winning states, Area Development said, “Long dependent on the auto industry for jobs and its tax base, Michigan’s list of top projects is refreshingly diversified, which reflects on the state’s recent emphasis on new industry categories, particularly alternative energy.”

Among the projects highlighted by Area Development were:

Energetx Composite’s expansion of its wind-energy facility in Holland. In April, the spinoff of S2 Yachts was approved for a Centers of Energy Excellence designation and $3.5 million in funding to collaborate with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Dow Chemical Co. to manufacture wind turbine blades with advanced materials. Dow and ORNL will deliver innovative materials and technical expertise to Energetx, and the University of Michigan and Kettering University will contribute workforce training. The project will receive $3.5 million in matching funds from the U.S. Department of Energy.

• Farmers Group Inc.’s $84.4 million expansion of its operating capabilities on the grounds of its existing Caledonia location. The expansion includes a print and distribution center, call center growth space and a training facility, which is an expansion of the University of Farmers Grand Rapids, to provide training for approximately 5,000 employees and company agents each year.
• A $60.5 million expansion by Roskam Baking Co., the supplier of croutons, cereal, snack mixes and dry-mix products for major food companies, to add new lines at its Kentwood facility to make products for independent businesses.

In addition to this latest honor by Area Development magazine, Michigan has been recognized this year as the No. 3 state for corporate expansions — including the one by Johnson Controls-Saft Advanced Power Solutions, a leading independent supplier of lithium-ion batteries for hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.  The company announced last year that it would invest $220 in a new advanced-battery manufacturing facility in Holland to produce lithium-ion cells for automotive applications — by Site Selection magazine.

Michigan was also honored with seven Trade & Industry Development magazine CiCi Awards, a competition that recognizes the top 30 projects in North America in two categories: corporate investment and community impact.

All of these awards underscore Michigan’s competitive business climate, innovative economic development toolbox and outstanding workforce. Companies are investing in our state because we’ve taken the steps necessary to be a top location in which to do business.

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