LANSING – Four business expansions – which combined will generate nearly $15.6 million in total investment and create 366 jobs around the state – have received Michigan Strategic Fund support, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. announced.
The projects are as follows:
* DornerWorks Ltd. received a $200,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant to support an expansion at its Grand Rapids headquarters, creating 25 engineering jobs and investing $710,000. DornerWorks provides electronic engineering services for the aerospace, medical, automotive, and other industrial markets. The funds will help offset recruitment and training costs for the 25 new jobs. Michigan was chosen over competing sites in Arizona, Ohio, and Wisconsin, where the company has strong customer bases. In addition, other MEDC local partners including The Right Place, West Michigan Works, and the city of Grand Rapids have supported this project with economic and workforce development tools. For information about careers with DornerWorks, visit http://dornerworks.com/careers. “We have been asked by several customers to open additional design and development engineering centers close to their locations, but we are dedicated to West Michigan and we wanted to expand here,” said DornerWorks President and CEO David Dorner. “The Right Place understood our business and the competitive situation we were in. Thanks to their efforts, along with their partners, we are able to continue growing in Grand Rapids.”
* OptiMed Specialty Pharmacy received a $500,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant to support a new location in Kalamazoo County’s Oshtemo Township, which will generate $1.2 million in capital investment and create 77 new jobs. OptiMed provides personalized medication management and research-based clinical support. OptiMed specializes in caring for individuals with rare and complex conditions such as: immune disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, HIV, hepatitis C and multiple sclerosis. Michigan was chosen over competing sites in California and Louisiana due to the area’s economic diversity, broad talent pool, and community support. Southwest Michigan First is supporting the project in the form of staff time and resources. For more information about careers with OptiMed Pharmacy, Inc., visit www.optimedspecialtyrx.com/careers. “We are very excited that we have the opportunity to build our national headquarters here, in Kalamazoo, surrounded by the community that has continually inspired and empowered our organization,” said Andrew Reeves, CEO of OptiMed Specialty Pharmacy.
* Shipston Aluminum Technologies (Michigan) Inc. received a $600,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant to support an expansion in Ottawa County’s Spring Lake Township that will generate $10 million in capital investment and create 114 new jobs. Shipston is a manufacturer of aluminum components for the auto industry. Spring Lake Township is offering support through a property tax amendment related to the project. In addition, other MEDC local partners, The Chamber of Commerce Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Ferrysburg and West Michigan Works, have supported this project with economic and workforce development tools. For more information about careers with Shipston Aluminum Technologies (Michigan) Inc., visit http://www.shipstonaluminumtech.com/careers/.
* Karma Automotive LLC received a $450,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant to support a new automotive engineering and purchasing office in Troy to support the company’s California-based supply chain activities and automotive production. The office is expected to generate $3.6 million in capital investment and create up to 150 jobs. Karma, a subsidiary of the Chinese auto supplier Wanxiang, designs and manufactures luxury hybrid vehicles. Karma Automotive will debut its first vehicle, the Karma Revero, later this year. Michigan was chosen over a competing site in California. The city of Troy is supporting the project in the form of marketing and promotional assistance. For more information about careers with Karma Automotive, visit https://careers-karmaautomotive.icims.com.
For more on the MEDC and its initiatives, visit michiganbusiness.org. For Michigan travel news, updates and information, visit michigan.org. Michigan residents interested in seeking employment should check mitalent.org, where more than 98,000 jobs are currently available in a variety of industries.