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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Dakkota Integrated Systems Eyes Auto Parts Assembly Facility in Detroit, Michigan

01/23/2020
Dakkota Integrated Systems, a company that supplies assembly and sequencing services for the OEM automotive market, plans to construct and operate a 300,000 square-foot manufacturing facility on a portion of the former Kettering High School and Rose Elementary School sites in Detroit, Michigan.

The new facility will supply suspension assemblies and instrument panel assemblies in support of FCA’s production of the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Grand Wagoneer, as well as other future business via multimodal commerce including truck and rail. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of up to $45 million in the city of Detroit and create 400 jobs.

As a result, the company has been awarded a $1.5 million Michigan Business Development Program grant and has been approved as a Next Michigan Business within the boundaries of the Detroit Next Michigan Development Corporation Renaissance Zone for a period of 15 years estimated to be worth $3.5 million.

In addition to MSF support, the Michigan Department of Transportation has committed $832,939 in grant funding to help address transportation needs. The city of Detroit has matched $268,018 of these dollars to secure the grant funding. Detroit is also providing an Industrial Property Tax Abatement and street/utility vacations. The Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation is supporting the company’s talent needs through its Detroit At Work program. Detroit Public Schools and Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority assisted with the sale and acquisition of the sites.

“We are excited to bring manufacturing jobs to the east side of Detroit. Our mission is to create high quality jobs and develop top talent, while exceeding our customers’ expectations and helping them win the marketplace. We are proud to support FCA, help a Detroit neighborhood thrive, and showcase world-class quality auto parts built by hardworking Detroiters,” said Dakkota Integrated Systems CEO and President Andra Rush. “Dakkota appreciates the Michigan Economic Development Corp. for their hard work and effort to make this opportunity happen for our company in the City of Detroit.”

The company also is committed to hiring qualified Detroiters and those who live in the communities adjacent to the project site by leveraging relationships with Detroit at Work, Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation and Detroit Economic Growth Corporation.

“Dakkota has made a major commitment to Detroit, bringing its new FCA parts manufacturing plant that will bring more than 400 new jobs to the site of the former Kettering school. Even better, Dakkota founder Andra Rush has committed to interviewing pre-qualified Detroiters for these jobs first, before considering anyone from outside the city and giving highest priority to Detroiters living in the neighborhoods immediately adjacent to the new plant,” said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. “I'm optimistic that this development will help attract another supplier to redevelop the rest of the Kettering site and bring even more new jobs to our city.”

“The DEGC is committed to creating job opportunities for Detroit residents. Because Detroit was successful in landing FCA’s new Jeep plant, we are now able to attract its Tier 1 and 2 automotive suppliers,” said Detroit Economic Growth Corporation President and CEO Kevin Johnson. “Dakkota will utilize the same preferred-Detroiter hiring process as FCA, ensuring our residents are first in line for quality jobs. Land assembly is a top DEGC priority, so that we will have shovel-ready sites for industrial and light manufacturing investment.”

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