LANSING — The Michigan Economic Development Corp. announced Michigan Strategic Fund approval of two business expansion projects that are expected to generate $10.2 million in investments and add up to 114 new jobs in West Michigan.
Celia Corp., which does business as General Formulations, was established in 1984 and manufactures plastic film for the printing industry and screen printing for advertising materials. The company plans on expanding in Sparta, investing about $4.2 million and creating 50 jobs. As a result, the project has been awarded a $233,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. Michigan was chosen over competing sites in Georgia and California. Sparta also plans to give the project a property tax abatement. Individuals interested in exploring employment opportunities with Celia Corporation should visit www.generalformulations.com.
Flow-Rite Controls Ltd. designs, manufactures and markets fluid control devices for batteries, fishing boats, laboratories, and medical devices. The company plans to expand its existing operations in Byron Center, investing about $6.1 million and creating 64 jobs. As a result, the company has been awarded a $224,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. Byron Township has offered the project a property tax abatement. For information on careers with Flow-Rite, visit www.flow-rite.com/careers.
“Flow-Rite is the definition of what advanced manufacturing looks like today in West Michigan,” said Birgit Klohs, president and CEO of The Right Place Inc., the Grand Rapids area’s economic development agency. “It is imperative that we retain and expand growing companies like Flow-Rite in our region — companies that take pride in the ‘Made in the USA’ labels on their products.”
The Michigan Business Development Program provides grants, loans and other economic assistance to qualified businesses that make investments or create jobs in Michigan, with preference given to businesses that need additional assistance for deal-closing and for second stage gap financing.
The MSF considers a number of factors in making these awards, including: out-of-state competition, private investment in the project, business diversification opportunities, near-term job creation, wage and benefit levels of the new jobs, and net-positive return to the state. Business retention and retail projects are not eligible for consideration of these incentives.
For more on the MEDC and its initiatives, visit MichiganBusiness.org. Michigan residents interested in seeking employment with any of Michigan’s growing companies should check mitalent.org, where more than 83,000 jobs are currently available in a variety of industries.