LANSING – With a total of eight auto-related projects out of the 12 new economic development projects announced for the state on Tuesday, the head of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation said there was strong evidence of the resurgence of the automotive sector.

The projects dealt not only with advanced battery manufacturing, but with suppliers to those battery manufacturers.

Greg Main, president of the MEDC, who joined Gov. Jennifer Granholm in announcing the projects, said he was “really excited about the buildout of the supply chain for batteries.”

Having the second tier of companies needed to support a base of battery manufacturing is a “significant symbol of progress” as the state works to become the leading advanced battery manufacturing center in the United States.

One of the companies involved in the grants issued Tuesday, Toda America (which received a $1.6 million credit from the state to invest $70.1 million in Battle Creek for a lithium ion-battery materials plant), was a corporation that Granholm visited in September during her latest overseas trade mission.

Along with Toda, the Michigan Economic Growth Authority board approved an anchor jobs incentive for A123 Systems and for Dow Kokam (both which had received tax grants earlier in the year).

Other automotive-related projects approved include a $600,000 grant to Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance in Dundee (the company will invest $179 million for robotized engine manufacturing and will create 155 jobs), a $1.8 million grant to Akebono Corporation (the company will invest $28 million for laboratory space and testing on automotive brake development, creating 279 jobs), a $7.1 million tax credit for Lear Corporation (which will invest $14 million in its facilities in Roscommon, Southfield and Taylor, adding 224 new jobs and retaining 1,836 jobs), and a $70.7 million credit for 10 years to Nexteer Automotive of Saginaw (the former Delphi steering plant will invest $413 million in advanced steering and driveline systems, retaining some 2,400 jobs).

The state also approved a tax credit for General Motors to keep a minimum of 2,500 workers at its headquarters in Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit.

The company now has some 4,000 workers there and there was some question on how many workers would need to remain. But Main said the credits were based on figures GM had initially given the state of 2,500 and that discussions with the automaker would continue on how many workers would be located there.

Other projects approved were:

SEIU Member Action Service Center received a $2 million tax credit on a new administrative services center in Redford Township to create 224 new jobs.

Consolidated Resource Imaging will receive $625,915 tax credit for a facility in Walker to develop high-tech electronics and aerospace projects. The project should create some 50 jobs.

Steelcase will expand its headquarters in Grand Rapids with a $4.7 million tax credit, keeping 350 jobs.

Detroit will get a brownfield grant to help redevelop the Bell Building in the city along with the NSO Bell Housing organization. The building will be redeveloped to provide housing for as many as 155 homeless persons along with the organizations administrative and service operations.

Battle Creek, which received a brownfield development, grant to assist in the redevelopment of the former SEMCO Gas building in the city as the site for Covance Laboratories. The company will hire 43 persons.

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