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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Knight Transportation Establishes Logistics Facility In Grand Rapids, Michigan

03/31/2016
Knight Transportation, one of North America’s largest and most diversified truckload transportation companies, will establish its first Michigan Logistics branch at 555 Fourth Street NW in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The new branch will house the company’s “Solutions team,” focused on leveraging all of Knight Transportation’s capabilities and technology to create an efficient high service solution for their customers.

“When selecting a site for our new office we felt it was important to locate in a city with a vibrant and growing economy that provides access to a highly skilled work force,” said Mike McClelland, Senior Vice President, Knight Transportation. “The Grand Rapids community and surrounding area gives access to some of the most distinguished colleges and universities and also gives our employees a great place to live.”

“West Michigan’s unique geographic location requires special attention to freight movement in and out of the region,” said Birgit Klohs, President/CEO, The Right Place, a regional non-profit economic development organization. “Strengthening the logistics and supply chain network in West Michigan creates a more competitive environment for the region’s manufacturing companies. The addition of Knight Transportation will further enhance West Michigan’s freight network.”

Incentives offered the firm include: the City of Grand Rapids is considering the approval of a local PA 328 Property Tax Abatement to provide support for Knight Transportation’s capital investment of $574,000. In addition the Michigan Strategic Fund provided incentives that will bring 87 jobs to Grand Rapids over the next three years.”

West Michigan Works!, the region’s largest workforce development system, offered $140,000 in workforce development funding as the company begins its hiring process. The organization is prepared to provide a variety of assistance services, from pre-hire screening to on-the-job training programs.

“The City is grateful that Knight Transportation has found Grand Rapids an ideal place to accelerate its business forward. The strong partnership between the City, The Right Place, Inc., the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and West Michigan Works! all came together in an effort to make this project possible,” said Kara Wood, City of Grand Rapids Economic Development Director.

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