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April 6, 2006
Contact: Michael Shore, MEDC
(517) 335-4590
Governor Announces Assistance to
Support Hemlock Semiconductor Expansion in Thomas Township
Company Will Invest $250 Million, Create 150 New
Jobs
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced a $1,010,000 grant to
Thomas Township to make public infrastructure improvements needed for
Hemlock Semiconductor to expand its polycrystalline silicon manufacturing
operations there. The grant is being made available by the Michigan Economic
Development Corporation with funds provided by the federal Community
Development Block Grant program. The project is expected to generate $250
million in private investment and 150 new jobs.
“The expansion of Hemlock Semiconductor will create essential jobs in the
Saginaw area and anchor the company in the community for years to come,”
Granholm said. “This is another example of high-tech companies choosing
Michigan to invest and grow new jobs.”
Thomas Township will use the grant to install new sewer and water mains
to support Hemlock Semiconductor’s expansion.
“HSC has been a vital part of our local economy and a strong supporter of
our community for many years,” Thomas Township manager Russ Taylor said.
“The township was proud to work with the company to assist with its most
recent expansion to improve the long-term viability of the company and to
bring hundreds of jobs to the Saginaw/Midland area. We hope that the
expansion will help HSC to maintain its strong position in the global market
in the polycrystalline silicon industry.”
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation administers the state’s
Community Development Block Grant funds received from the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development. These funds are used to provide grants and
loans to eligible counties, cities, villages and townships—typically those
with populations less than 50,000—for economic development, community
development and housing projects. Larger communities receive block grant
funds directly from the federal government.
The MEDC is able to award approximately $40 million in federal CDBG funds
each year. There are 1,655 local governments within the state eligible to
apply for these funds. Projects are approved contingent upon compliance with
state and federal requirements.
“I applaud Thomas Township leaders for making this project possible,”
MEDC President and CEO James C. Epolito said. “The hundreds of good-paying
jobs that will be created as a result will have lasting effects on the
community for many years to come.”
Hemlock Semiconductor was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of Dow
Corning Corporation in 1979. In 1984, the company formed a joint venture
with two of Japan's largest silicon wafer manufacturers, Shin-Etsu Handotai
Company Limited and Mitsubishi Materials Corporation. HSC is the world's
leading producer of polycrystalline silicon, a component of photovoltaic
cells used to produce solar energy and various electronic devices for the
semiconductor industry.
Last November, the company announced it would expand in Michigan thanks
to a Single Business Tax credit offered through the MEDC valued at $5.1
million over the next 15 years.
In her 2006 State of the State address, Granholm& emphasized the
importance of making Michigan a global economic powerhouse in the 21st
century. Since January 2005, the Governor and the MEDC have announced the
creation or retention of more than 69,000 jobs as a result of targeted
assistance provided by the MEDC.
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation, a partnership between the
state and local communities, promotes smart economic growth by developing
strategies and providing services to create and retain good jobs and a high
quality of life. For more information on MEDC initiatives and programs,
visit the Web site at
www.michigan.org.
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