2nd Quarter Saginaw County Business
Attractions
September 25, 2009
In the 2nd quarter of 2009, Saginaw Future Inc. (SFI)
assisted seven companies that invested more than $12.3 million, creating 508
jobs and retaining 71 jobs.
Expansions
Dow Corning Corp. plans to invest another $3.5 million at its
Solar Solutions Application Center in Freeland. The investment will
support continued research and development of new techniques to
commercialize the use of silicones.
Demonstrating its commitment to drive solar power innovations, Dow Corning
opened its Solar Solutions Application Center in 2008 to collaborate with
customers to develop, evaluate and pilot materials solutions used to
manufacture solar panels. The 27,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art
facility represents a combined investment of $6.5 million and includes a
laboratory, pilot equipment and testing facilities.
General Motors Corp. recently announced that it
will discontinue plans to remove the Buick nameplate from Garber Buick,
5925 State St. in Saginaw Charter Township. Third-generation owner Richard
Garber credits the community’s proactive approach in getting GM to reverse
its decision. GM is offering a conditional agreement to work with its
channel strategy and Garber Buick is committed to General Motors goals and
channel strategy in the Saginaw market. Garber Buick, with its roots firmly
planted in Saginaw, put together a unique and impressive business case.
Morley
Companies Inc. plans to add
up to 500 new jobs and will invest $4.5 million in Saginaw Charter Township
to support the needs of a major new client. The Michigan Economic
Development Corporation awarded Morley Companies a five-year, $2.8 million
tax credit to beat out competing sites in Oregon, Texas and Canada. The
32,750 sq. ft. facility will house a call center and a training area, where
employees provide data collection and market research, along with call
center services. This latest expansion comes on the heels of $1.7 million
investment by Morley Companies in 2008. Saginaw Future and the Saginaw
County Chamber of Commerce worked with area legislators to modify the
current MEGA law, to include health care benefits in the eligibility
criteria. This enabled Morley Companies to be the first in the State of
Michigan to benefit from the law change and attract new business as a
result.
Prints Plus Inc. located in the City of
Saginaw has invested in new equipment to
expand its capabilities. The company purchased an Oce' 350GT UV
Flatbed Printer, which will allow the business to produce near-photographic
quality prints on rigid and flexible media for sign and display graphic
applications. Prints Plus invested $140,000 and created two additional
positions as a result of the project and the equipment will allow the
company to maintain a competitive pace with the industry. Prints Plus
specializes in large format commercial printing, copying, blueprints,
signage and more.
Saginaw Control &
Engineering (SCE) will add at least
four jobs to its ranks upon the installation of a $430,000 welding machine.
SCE has been serving the electrical industry since 1963 at its 255,000 sq.
ft. manufacturing complex located at 95 Midland Rd. The company specializes
in manufacturing both standard stock and custom designed enclosures, as well
as precision sheet metal fabrications. In addition to its manufacturing
facility and warehouse, SCE has added a distribution center in Lenoir City,
Tennessee; to accompany existing distribution centers in Aurora, Ohio; and
Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Siler Precision
Machine, Inc. continues to develop and
grow its Village of Merrill facility through the purchase of a new piece of
equipment. This is the company's sixth investment since 2002, previous
projects included several purchases of Computer Numerical Control (CNC)
equipment, a CNC Milling Center, updating office space, meeting rooms and
its main lobby to accommodate its growing business. Siler Precision was
established in 1994 when owners converted a vacant car dealership into a
tool and die facility.
Star of the West
Milling provides drying, processing
and storing of grains. The company is expanding and refurbishing its City of
Frankenmuth headquarters with a total investment of $3.7 million, which is
the result of high growth in whole grain food products. The company has
storage facilities throughout Saginaw County. Saginaw Future has worked
closely with the growing agribusiness, which invested in additional storage
and a grain dryer at it Frankenmuth Township location this Spring.
In 2008, Star of the West added 643,000 bushels of
additional storage and a grain dryer, investing more than $2.2 million and
retaining five jobs. The project was also in Frankenmuth Township.
The company has expanded from one mill to five
flour mills in four different states and has elevators in seven countries.
It handles wheat, corn, soybeans, processes edible beans and more.
