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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Michigan Economic Development Awards Nearly $25 Million in Grants To Orion Township and Gaylord Firms Sparking Expansion

04/21/2014
The Michigan Strategic Fund approved incentive grants to China-based Fuyao Automotive North America and Liechtenstein-based Oerlikon Balzers Coatings USA that are expected to generate investments of approximately $21.3 million in Charter Township of Orion, Michigan, and create up to 152 jobs.

In addition, a state Community Development Block Grant will spark an additional $4 million investment by AMI Industries in Gaylord, Michigan, with plans to create 101 jobs.

“These projects will strengthen and further revitalize our communities and help growing companies generate new job opportunities,” said Michigan Economic Development Corporation President/CEO Michael A. Finney. “Michigan’s unemployment rate has just hit another record low, and today’s investments offer even further evidence of Michigan’s improving economy and the success of our strategy to help companies grow and add jobs here.”

As a subsidiary of Fuyao Glass Industry Group, an international manufacturer of automotive glass located in the People’s Republic of China, Fuyao Automotive North America provides warehousing, assembly, repackaging, inspection, program management, engineering design and sales support services of automotive glass to North American automotive OEMs.

The firm plans to expand its Charter Township of Orion operations center by adding equipment to manufacture auto glass assembly parts. The project, which is expected to bring in up to $15.3 million new investment and create up to 102 total jobs, was approved for a $1 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. In addition, The Township plans to offer support to the project in the form of a PA 198 property tax abatement.

Also in Charter Township of Orion, Liechtenstein-based Oerlikon Balzers Coatings USA is a supplier of physical vapor deposition coatings and other surface technologies which improve the performance and durability of precision components, as well as tools for the metal and plastics processing industries.

The firm, which has multiple locations in Michigan, plans to create a new large coating center which will introduce new technologies to the U.S. market, including new coating technologies and R&D for new applications. The project, which is expected to create 50 jobs, will involve consolidation of the Harrison Township facility into the project site and a total capital investment of approximately $6 million in Orion Township.

As a result, the project will receive a $250,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. In addition Orion Township offered the firm a property tax abatement.

In addition, the City of Gaylord has been awarded $650,000 in CDBG funds for job training for the AMI Industries project. AMI Industries, a fabricator of tubular products for a variety of industries including automotive and heavy truck, has acquired a facility in Gaylord for light manufacturing and assembly.

The company expects to invest up to $4 million and create 101 jobs. The CDBG grant will assist the company with training of skilled machine operators as well as process engineers. The company has agreed that at least 52 of the 101 positions will be held by low to moderate income persons.

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