COMPANIES TO INVEST $330M TO GROW IN MICHIGAN

LANSING, MICH. — The Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) has committed to helping 10 companies grow in Michigan, and has committed to backing four brownfield redevelopment projects in the state. The 14 projects are expected to generate more than $330 million in new investment in the state, as well as create and retain a total of 8,912 jobs.
Eight of the largest planned projects include:
• Monroe — Great Lakes Towers LLC is planning to invest an initial $19 million to locate its first manufacturing facility in Monroe. The company, which eventually plans to manufacture more than 500 wind towers each year, will create 290 jobs. The Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) has approved a $3.7 million state tax credit over 10 years. Additionally, the city of Monroe is considering an abatement and infrastructure improvements to the Port of Monroe for support.
• Detroit — W Industries plans to invest $36 million to expand its metal fabrication operations in Detroit. The expansion, which is expected to create 943 jobs, will allow the auto supplier to diversify into the aerospace and defense sectors. The MEGA board has approved a state tax credit of $9.7 million over 10 years. Also, the city of Detroit has approved a 12-year property tax abatement for support.
• Pontiac — Motown Motion Pictures, which will be both a film studio and a production services company, is investing approximately $70 million in a 600,000-square-foot development with nine sound stages in Pontiac. MEGA has approved a tax credit of $101 million over 12 years to help bring the project to Michigan.
• Shelby Township — Models & Tools, the Troy, Mich.-based aerospace tooling company, plans to invest $6.2 million in a new high bay facility in Shelby Township. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, MEGA has approved a $2 million state tax credit over 10 years. Shelby Township has also approved a 5-year abatement to support the project.
• Marshall — Missouri-based Tribal Manufacturing is planning to invest $4.6 million to launch new manufacturing operations in Marshall. MEGA has approved a state tax credit valued at $3.9 million over 7 years to entice the company to choose Michigan over competing sites in Kansas and Missouri.
• Detroit — Wonderstruck Studios LLC, a new venture as part of Detroit Center Studios, will produce film content with an emphasis on computer-generated visual effects and animation. The company is investing $85.9 million to create a digital pipeline in downtown Detroit. The project, which is expected to create 700 jobs, has been approved to receive a state tax credit totaling $16.9 million over 12 years. In addition, Infrastructure Development Film and Digital Media Incentives totaling $11.7 million have been approved to support the project.
• Ann Arbor — Land development and consulting firm Atwell-Hicks LLC is planning to invest $5 million to expand its Ann Arbor operations. MEGA has approved a $1.4 million state tax credit over 7 years to support the project, which is expected to create 239 jobs. Ann Arbor and the city of Pittsfield Township have also pledged to support the project pending a final site decision by the company.
• Blackman Township — Maverick Industries LLC has plans to acquire the former Kaneka plant and its machinery and equipment located in Blackman Township. The project is expected to create 208 jobs and generate $11 million in private investment. MEGA has approved a $1.2 million state tax credit over 7 years for the project. Blackman Township has also approved a 7-year tax abatement.