Welcome to Wayne County, Michigan

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General Electric
• GE is bringing nearly 1,200 high-paying jobs (average salary = $100,000, plus benefits) to its new $100 million Advanced Manufacturing Technology and Software Center in Van Buren Twp.
• The Global Research Center will include an R&D facility that will house scientists and engineers working on next-generation manufacturing technologies for GE's renewable energy, aircraft engine, gas turbine, and other high-tech products. It will also house GE experts in software development.
  
  A123Systems
• Advanced lithium-ion battery manufacturer A123Systems chose Wayne County as its regional headquarters and the location for its Michigan Center of Energy Excellence, as well as future production plants. A123 will develop, prototype, and assemble battery cells and battery packs for Chrysler’s line of electric and hybrid vehicles.
• It is anticipated that A123’s initial investment in Wayne County will be over $50 million, creating 300 jobs by 2010. This investment is expected to increase now that A123 has secured grants from the U.S. Department of Energy
  
  Ford Motor Company
• Ford has pledged to spend $550 million to retool its Wayne plant to build the European version of the Focus, as well as the electric Focus in 2011.
• The project is expected to retain 3,200 jobs in Wayne County.
  
  General Motors
• GM will invest $43 million into a 160,000 sq. ft. plant in Brownstown Twp. for the production of battery packs for the Chevrolet Volt.
• More than 100 advanced technology jobs will be created, packaging the battery cells that will power the Chevrolet Volt and other electric vehicles in GM's lineup
  
  Fisher Coachworks
• Fisher Coachworks LLC is investing $7 million to develop a 40-foot hybrid bus at a 25,000 square-foot facility to be located in Wayne County. The project is expected to create more than 500 jobs.
  
  Great Lakes Recycling
• GLR is a full service recycler that has been in business for over 80 years. Its new facility located in Huron Township will encourage waste minimization and increase recycling awareness, serving municipalities and businesses throughout the region. This project will create 42 new full time jobs and represents more than a $12 million investment.
  
  The Michigan Institute of Aeronautics
• The Michigan Institute of Aeronautics, one of the largest aviation maintenance schools in the nation, is expanding and locating its Power Technology Institute in Wayne County. The project is expected to create 145 new jobs.
• The Institute, with 103 students currently, expects to grow to over 600 students over the next five years. It focuses on alternative energy and trains students to become technicians and dispatchers.
  
  Pump Engineering
• This manufacturer of high-efficiency pumps and energy recovery turbochargers is investing $4.2 million to expand in Huron Charter Twp. The project will create 110 total jobs, and it is estimated that the increased economic activity created by the project will create an additional 59 indirect jobs.
  
  Cobo Hall
• In June 2009, Governor Granholm signed legislation that allows the City of Detroit to lease Cobo Hall to a regional authority and authorizes $300 million for its expansion and renovation. The expansion of Cobo Hall will create hundreds of construction jobs and retain 16,000 jobs.
  
  Severstal North America Inc.
• The fourth-largest steelmaker in the U.S. plans to invest $700 million to rehabilitate, modernize and enhance aging facilities in Dearborn to improve its steel mill. The project is expected to retain 76 Michigan jobs.
  
  Steel Tool & Engineering Co.
• This manufacturer and engineering provider of precision component parts for military and commercial aircraft jet engines plans to invest $3.5 million to consolidate operations in Taylor and Wyandotte into a facility in Gibraltar. The project is expected to create 112 new jobs, including 50 directly by the company.
  
  Wayne County Motion Picture Studio Projects
  Wayne County EDGE remains actively involved in the proposed development of two studio projects in Wayne County:
  
• Unity Studios ($60 million media production facility and media trade school to be built on 104 acres that could create over 1,000 jobs)
• 23rd Street Studios ($40 million facility to be built on 18 acres in Detroit)
  
  The Michigan Life Science and Innovation Center (MLSIC)
• A partnership between the County, the MEDC, and Ann Arbor SPARK to create a cutting edge business accelerator in an abandoned Pfizer facility for life sciences companies. The MLSIC connects experienced entrepreneurs such as Esperion Therapeutics to business accelerator organizations and start-ups under one roof.
  • The catalyst for the Center was Dr. Roger Newton, co-founder of the drug Lipitor and one of Michigan's most renowned entrepreneurs and scientists
• The 57,518-square-foot building offers office space, laboratory facilities and rare vivarium areas that are accessible by the private sector.
• Tenant Lycera Corporation has just closed on $36 million in venture capital funding, and Velesco Pharmaceutical Services moved its Ann Arbor laboratories into the MLSIC this summer.
  
  TechTown
• Wayne County has awarded TechTown, one of the nation's most active business accelerators, a $750,000 grant to build out space for at least nine new companies that have been on the facility's waiting lists for months.
• TechTown is also the location for Michigan's first Stem Cell Development and Commercialization Center. This partnership between Wayne County, the private sector, and the academic sector capitalizes on legislation that has paved the way for embryonic stem cell research in Michigan
• Wayne County has also announced a $500,000 training grant to TechTown to support the establishment and growth of at least 25 new logistics companies.
• This grant was received by the County from the federal government and constitutes part of its drive to establish an Aerotropolis.