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9,000 New Michigan Jobs Save Email Print
Posted: 6:59 PM Apr 22, 2008
Last Updated: 7:52 PM Apr 22, 2008
Reporter: Jason Colthorp
Email Address: jason.colthorp@wilx.com

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In high school, especially economics class, I was a big fan of the glossary. Since I think it will help regarding this story, here are some terms you may feel the need to revisit during this story:

MPI Research, Inc. - Life sciences company planning $330M expansion in Mattawan and Kalamazoo creating 3,300 new jobs and 3,300 indirect jobs.

BAE Systems - Global defense company launching $58.4M expansion in Sterling Heights creating 460 new engineering and high-tech jobs and 559 indirect jobs.

Wayne County Brownfield Development - Supporter of $72M development of Pinnacle Race Course in Huron Township creating 1,000 jobs.

City of Grand Rapids - Assisting construction of building for Spectrum Health retaining 30 jobs.

Indirect Jobs - Spin-off jobs that are calculated by the state and expected to emerge from investment.

Diversification - Term used by the Governor referring to the state's effort to branch out and attract different kinds of business apart from the traditional automotive factory jobs.

Tax abatement - When a taxing board grants a taxpayer or company a stay of paying taxes for a short or long period of time.

Which brings us to Von Weise, Inc., a company that makes small motors for automobiles and small engine starters for things like lawn mowers. It's moving its operations in Indiana and Missouri to its facility in Eaton Rapids, and will now be headquartered there.
"The best part of the deal is we beat out Juarez, Mexico," said Mayor James Davidson.
They did it with some key incentives from both the state and the city.
They include, a state tax credit of more than $1.1 million dollars over seven years, and an $800 thousand dollar grant from the state to buy equipment. The city also waived an equipment tax that shakes out to $139 thousand dollars. That tax abatement stretches 12 years.
This investment comes on the heels of Dowding Industries deciding to stay and expand in Eaton Rapids, which according to the Mayor really helps diversify the business landscape there. Dowding is an alternative energy company that makes wind turbines.

As for the overall announcement of five projects including MPI Research, BAE Systems, and two developments in Grand Rapids and Huron Township, Governor Jennifer Granholm called it phenomenal news.
"These five projects will create 8,983 new jobs," she said at a press conference Tuesday. "That's $468 million dollars in investment in Michigan."

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Posted by: Kim Location: Mason on Apr 23, 2008 at 09:18 AM
OK, some of these jobs are calculated jobs and not actualy jobs. So in all fairness they may not even surface. Sorry being realistic here . . . talk to us when there is ACTUAL JOBS! Considering the 150,000 jobs lost just in the Lansing area this is just a drop in the bucket nice but to little way to late!

Posted by: west Location: hillsdale co. on Apr 23, 2008 at 06:41 AM
once again our area needs jobs.it's like we get left out.we do have empty factories in our county.many are out of work.our county has main roads,close to the ohio and indiana boarders.many nice home for sale.plus we are loaded with farm land.sure we've been in the factory bussiness for yrs,but there are more than automitive jobs out there,that can fill our empty factories.our unemployment has been over the 10.5 mark.our crime rate is low.there's many small towns needing big compainies,to put people to work.we just hope and wait.jenn needs to consider smaller areas needing work.we pay taxes just like the rest.it all adds up to getting mich back on it's feet.hillsdale co needs put back on the map for something big,and good.we are a college town but we need more than that.the saturday auction at the fair grounds is also enjoyable but no one has money to spend.alot to offer for people but we need jobs.

Posted by: James Location: Stockbridge on Apr 22, 2008 at 08:49 PM
This sounds quite impressive considering that we have lost a tenfold in the number of people.

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