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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Corning Plans Richland Township, Michigan, Solar Components Manufacturing Facility

02/29/2024
On behalf of its wholly owned subsidiary, Solar Technology, Corning Incorporated plans to establish manufacturing operations in Saginaw County, Michigan. The up to $900 million project is expected to create more than 1,100 jobs.

The new Richland Township facility will be dedicated to the creation of U.S.-made solar components. Production is scheduled for 2028.

“We are grateful for the strong leadership, collaboration and support from Governor Whitmer, the Michigan Legislature and the State of Michigan,” said Scott Forester, Corning division vice president and program executive, Solar. “These approved incentives helped confirm Michigan as the natural choice for this new endeavor. The planned facility will create thousands of local jobs and advance the goal of expanding access to U.S. renewable energy solutions.”

To support the project, the Michigan Strategic Fund approved a $68 million performance-based Critical Industries Program (CIP) grant through the Strategic Outreach and Reserve Fund (SOAR) and a 15-Year State Essential Services Assessment Exemption valued at $12.3 million.

“We are grateful to Corning Corporation and its partners for this vote of confidence in Team Michigan. The MEDC is proud to support companies like Corning who prove you can ‘Make it in Michigan’ regardless of whether you are a small company just starting out, have called Michigan home for a long time, or are entirely new to our great state,” noted MEDC CEO and MSF Board President Quentin Messer, Jr. “By onshoring our clean energy supply chain through projects like this, Michigan continues to assert its dominance in an industry that is vital not only to our energy independence but also to our climate security. Corning has a long history of innovation and civic engagement. We are excited to welcome the company to Michigan to author the next chapters in its storied history right here in the Saginaw region moving forward.”

In addition, officials approved a $29 million Strategic Site Readiness Program grant to Thomas Township for public infrastructure, road improvements and related expenses. Richland Township anticipates approval of a property tax abatement in support of the project.

“We are thrilled to work with such a great company and to have an investment and job creation project of this magnitude coming to Saginaw County and the Great Lakes Bay Region”, added JoAnn Crary, President of Saginaw Future Inc. “This has been an excellent partnership between Corning, the MEDC, local government entities and Saginaw Future. We are pleased the MSF Board voted to support this incredible development and look forward to seeking legislative approval.”

Corning Incorporated is an American multinational technology company that specializes in specialty glass, ceramics, and related materials and technologies including advanced optics, primarily for industrial and scientific applications.

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