LANSING – Hemlock Semiconductor with a $1 billion expansion near Saginaw heads a list of 20 companies, aided by state incentives, which are investing $2.3 billion in projects around the state.

The much-anticipated Hemlock facility, producing innovative solar energy panels, is part of an expansion that the company split between Michigan and Tennessee, where a new $1.2 billion facility will be built.

In all the projects are expected to create 7,350 direct jobs, which Governor Jennifer Granholm said is a “really terrific day for a state that needs some good news.”

It was the largest announcement of incentive-based projects in any single month in the history of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, said President James Epolito who credited an array of new incentives passed this year.

The Hemlock Semiconductor project is expected to create 190 jobs at the facility producing polycrystalline silicon. The facility in Tennessee is expected to create 500 jobs initially, and up to 900 eventually.

Dow Corning, which owns Hemlock Semiconductor, will use an adjacent site to manufacture high purity monosilane which is used to produce thin-film solar cells and liquid crystal displays. Partners in the projects are two Japanese companies, Shin-Etsu Handotai and Mitsubishi Materials.

The project will be supported by a state tax credit of $8.4 million over 20 years, and is the first to be designated for incentives under the state’s anchor company law providing additional aid when customers or suppliers locate nearby. Legislation passed earlier this year provided the company with refundable tax credits of $20 million-$35 million over 12 years based on the energy use at the facility.

Other projects announced Monday are:

Fisher Coachworks of Livonia, which is expected to create 539 new jobs with a $7 million facility that will be used to manufacture a fuel-efficient, lightweight transit bus. The bus is designed to get at least 10 miles per gallon, compared to about 3 miles per gallon for current buses. The state granted an $11.3 million credit for the company, which also considered a site in Tennessee.

Severstal North America, a steelmaker, for a $700 million project in Dearborn where it will retain 76 jobs. It was awarded $40 million in brownfield credits.

Faurecia, an automotive supplier which is investing $8.8 million and creating 82 new jobs in Fraser, helped by a $704,000 tax credit over eight years.

Northern United Brewing of Washtenaw County whose new $5.8 million operations will employ 158 persons. The state is providing tax incentives of $931,000 over seven years.

White & Green Motors of Eaton Rapids, a manufacturer of electric and recoil starters for gas engines, whose expansion aided by a $1 million tax credit over seven years is expected to create 60 jobs.

ZF Group, an automotive supplier in Marysville, whose $143.4 million expansion is expected to create 475 jobs. It is aided by a $5.8 million credit over 10 years.

HoMedics, a health care products company, which is building an $11 million facility in Commerce Township and creating 62 jobs, aided by a $1.1 million state tax credit.

Global Wind Systems, a manufacturer of wind turbines, which is building a $32.3 million facility in Novi and creating 356 jobs. It is aided by a $7.3 million tax credit over nine years.

Hart & Cooley, a heating/plumbing/air conditioning firm, which will spend $3.9 million to consolidate American and Canadian operations in Grand Rapids, where it will create 48 new jobs. The project is aided by a $1.3 million tax credit over 10 years.

Kongsberg Automotive which is building a $4.4 million expansion of its facility in Novi where it will crate 58 jobs. The state granted a $875,000 credit.

Novixus, a pharmaceutical processing firm, which is building a $3.4 million expansion of its Novi facility where it will create 192 jobs. The state granted a credit of $3.1 million over seven years.

Golden Rectangle was granted a $4.7 million brownfield credit for redevelopment of the Detroit Creamery building into a residential/retail complex, creating 50 jobs.

Scripps Park Associates was granted $5 million in brownfield credits for a $35 million redevelopment of an abandoned public housing project.

Grand Traverse County/Pine Street One Development was granted $1.6 million in brownfield credits for a new $33 million mixed use building in Traverse City.

Washtenaw County/601 Forest which was granted $10 million in brownfield credits for an $82.8 million project in Ann Arbor creating 80 new jobs.

State and local tax captures were approved for the Greater Detroit Hospital redevelopment, a mixed use building in Grand Rapids, a commercial/parking project in Traverse City, and a retail project in Ann Arbor.

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