LANSING—Projects expected to generate a total of $9 million in private investment and create 125 jobs in Michigan have received support from the Michigan Strategic Fund, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. announced.
- Feyen Zylstra received a $570,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant to support a $6 million purchase of a building adjacent to its current building in Kent County’s Walker, a project that is expected to create 100 jobs. Michigan was chosen over competing sites in South Carolina and Tennessee. Founded in 1980, Feyen Zylstra is an electrical services firm with more than 500 employees, focusing on the design, construction and maintenance of power, technology, infrastructure, and automation systems. It has offices in Walker, Kalamazoo, Traverse City, and Detroit in Michigan, as well as Nashville, Tenn., and Charleston, S.C. The Right Place Inc., the economic development agency for the Grand Rapids area, plans to offer assistance in finding candidates for the new positions. For information on careers with Feyen Zylstra, visit https://www.feyenzylstra.com/careers/.
- MAHLE Engine Components USA received a $186,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant to support a $2.9 million project to shut down a plant in York, Pa. as well as a production line in Italy and move the production to its plant in St. Johns, a project expected to create 25 jobs. MAHLE is a unit of MAHLE GmbH, is a Stuttgart, Germany-based auto parts manufacturer and is one the largest auto suppliers worldwide. Michigan was chosen over competing sites in Tennessee and Mexico. The city of St. Johns plans to offer assistance with finding candidates for the new positions. Individuals interested in a career with MAHLE should visit https://www.jobs.mahle.com/usa/en/.
In other activity, Otsego County was awarded $300,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds for its Trailhead Project which will add a pavilion in Gaylord to the existing 62-mile North Central State Trail. The project will provide accessibility to the trail system from downtown Gaylord, giving community members safe access to the trail to enjoy hiking, biking, snowmobiling, nature viewing, and more. The pavilion will offer public restrooms, adequate parking, and year-round access to the trail. The Trailhead Project has received two grants from the Department of Natural Resources totaling $620,000. Otsego County plans to make a contribution of $140,000 in support of the project.
For more on the MEDC and its initiatives, visit www.michiganbusiness.org.