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Schauer helps bring jobs to Calhoun and Jackson Counties
WKZO AM 590 - Kalamazoo: Schauer: 300 Manufacturing Jobs Over Next 3-Years
There's some bad news today... for North Carolina, Mexico and Indiana.
State Senator Mark Schauer is touting a big jobs anouncement in southern Michigan. Brake-maker Brembo and axle-maker Production Engineering have opted to stay close to home rather than expanding their operations out of state.
Schauer says the jobs they're bringing are in the manufacturing sector, signaling to the world that Michigan is competetive.
The two companies, which are based in Calhoun County and Jackson County respectively, are expected to add a combined 300 jobs over the next few years.
Jackson Citizen Patriot: Jobs on the way
Still, the outcome will be positive for the Jackson area. Production Engineering could have taken its 110 jobs out of town and another chunk of this community's morale along with it. Instead, officials like state Sen. Mark Schauer worked hard to put these two economic-development deals together.
In the end, these deals will not only to keep jobs here, but bring 300 new ones to the area.
Battle Creek Enquirer: Homer manufacturer to add 176 jobs
Brembo North America announced Tuesday it plans to add 176 jobs during the next several years at its Hayes Lemmerz manufacturing plant, located at 29991 M-60 East near Homer.
State Sen. Mark Schauer, D-Bedford Township, said Brembo leaders were considering moving plant operations to Mexico or North Carolina, but were swayed by a tax credit from the Michigan Economic Growth Authority.
MEGA approved state tax credits valued at $3.5 million over 10 years, and will provide Brembo with up to $500,000 in employee job training assistance — incentives the Italian brake manufacturer said will help keep the 107 jobs already at the Homer plant, where they plan to increase the employee count there to 283 within five years.
"Brembo is a major employer and they are an excellent employer who pay employees well and really nuture them, providing extra job training," Peggy Sindt, president and chief executive officer of the Albion Economic Development Corporation said. "Plus, they are a major competitor in the global market, so this is the type of company that has a lot of security. We've seen some manufacturers here that can't make it, but that's not a concern with Brembo."
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"This effort demonstrates that Michigan can compete with anyone in the world in the race for jobs," Schauer said. "By working together, providing incentives for job retention and creation, and offering a skilled workforce, we can turn this economy around."
WILX TV 10 - Lansing: Local Jobs Saved
"We were ready to go," he says.
But Jansen says he won't be crossing state-lines any time soon.
Thanks to new legislation, he's keeping these jobs not just in-state, but in town-- moving into the old Goodyear warehouse in Jackson.
"We had a great offer we would've had to take if it weren't for this legislation going through," Jansen says.
Prior law only gave tax credit for new jobs, explains State Senator Mark Schauer, (D) Battle Creek. Now companies like Production Engineering get tax credits for retaining existing jobs too.
"Without these incentives, they probably would've chosen to go somewhere else," Schauer says.
WLNS TV 6 - Lansing: Tax incentives keeps jobs in state
A Jackson based manufacturer offers good news for area residents looking for work.
The company Production Engineering announced Tuesday that a new tax incentive will allow them to keep their growing business in Michigan. The auto-parts maker will keep all 112 jobs at its plant in Jackson.
They'll also be creating 122 additional jobs during the next few years.
Jim Jansen, Production Engineering President: "I'm pleased today (Tuesday) we're able to work out this new legislation with the program we have to solve our problems and remain competitive and say right here in state."
Tax breaks spur local businesses, jobs
Brembo North America, Novi: The braking systems supplier will consolidate its corporate and technical groups from Northville, Farmington Hills and Costa Mesa, Calif., at a new headquarters to be built in Novi, instead of competing out-of-state sites. The subsidiary of Bergamo, Italy-based Brembo S.p.A. will also expand capacity at its manufacturing facility in Homer in Calhoun County. The combined project is expected create 325 jobs directly by the company. It will get state tax credits valued at $3.5 million over 10 years. The MEDC also will provide job-training assistance of up to $500,000 through the Economic Development Job Training program. The city of Novi is considering a reduction/reimbursement of permitting fees and an expedited approval process. Albion Township has approved a 12-year abatement estimated at $1.8 million.
Production Engineering Inc., Jackson: The manufacturer of components for wheel end, steering and drive train applications for specialty truck and construction equipment axles, will invest over $11 million to relocate to the 440,000-square-foot former Goodyear warehouse in Jackson. The project will create 122 new jobs at the company and retain 112. The company will get a state tax credit valued at $3.4 million over 10 years. The city of Jackson has proposed a 20-year abatement and Renaissance Zone designation for a combined value of over $3.4 million.
State News: 3,900 Mich. jobs to be created, retained with new tax incentives
Production Engineering, Inc., was considering leaving Michigan for Indiana before they qualified for the program. The automobile part manufacturer now plans to invest more than $11 million to move its warehouse to Jackson, Mich.
James Jansen, president of Production Engineering Inc., said companies like his need college graduates as the manufacturing industry becomes more technology-driven.
“We need technicians, engineers, business people to drive our company forward,” Jansen said.
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Sen. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, was among the Michigan legislators who supported MEGA’s decision.
“These are going to help companies that are looking to grow, that have options all over the country, and frankly all over the world, it will help them choose Michigan,” he said.
Oakland Press: Companies create new jobs
At the same time, however, Brembo also plans to expand its production plant near Albion, said Gerken, who described both moves as good for Michigan.
The expansion in Albion Township, west of Jackson, is expected to create 176 new jobs and retain 107 existing positions.
Overall, Brembo's two-pronged expansion is expected to retain and create 325 jobs directly, and another 724 jobs indirectly, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corp., which noted the company had decided to expand in Michigan, rather than North Carolina or Mexico.
WWMT TV 3: Jobs coming to West Michigan
In Calhoun County a company that makes braking systems for the auto industry is expanding its facility in Homer.
Right now about 100 people work at Brembo North America.
Construction on the expansion is expected to start right away.
Hundreds of jobs could be headed our way. The first of those developments will be in Jackson County.
A production engineering project will result in 112 jobs being retained in Jackson and the creation of up to 122 additional jobs over the next several years.
Lawmakers say the developments show our workers and State's capability to compete with other states.
President of Brembo, Dan Sandberg, said, "We really have a lot of confidence in the work force in Homer, great and flexible workforce and we were able to work a deal out with the state."
Along with the production engineering project, the Brembo Project was also announced Tuesday. The development will bring more than 200 jobs to the Albion Township area.
Jackson Citizen Patriot: 2 firms get tax perks to create jobs
Doing business in Michigan paid off Tuesday for a company that plans to move to Albion Township and another that will expand in Jackson when a state agency awarded millions in tax incentives for them to operate here.
The Michigan Economic Growth Authority approved an estimated $3.5 million in tax credits over 10 years to Brembo North America. The high-performance brake-systems manufacturer plans to create nearly 200 jobs and retain about 100 others when it shifts operations to Albion Township east of Homer at 29991 E. M-60.
The Michigan Economic Development Corp., which recommended the incentives, also pledged to provide job-training assistance of up to $500,000 through the Economic Development Job Training program to Brembo.
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Production Engineering was courted by officials in Indiana before deciding to stay local.
Jansen said the deal was the result of the hard work and collaboration between company, state and local officials.
"This is a culmination of a long process to keep a great family-owned business in Jackson County,'' said Sen. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, who worked with state and company officials to secure the incentives. "It's a great day for Jackson and a great day for Michigan.''
Schauer said Production Engineering's expansion and Brembo's move to the Homer area will create a noticeable ripple effect in the two communities as their businesses help build the local economy.
MIRS: MEDC Touts 11 Projects, 3,900 Jobs
Senate Minority Leader Mark SCHAUER (D-Battle Creek) touted two projects in his district at a press conference, saying Brembo North America in Homer could have moved in Mexico and Production Engineering in Jackson County could have skedaddled for Indiana. Schauer credited a new law that allows Michigan to extend incentives to businesses considering locating or retaining jobs here, instead of forcing them to first consider options in other states.
"This effort demonstrates that Michigan can compete with anyone in the world in the race for jobs," said Schauer. "By working together, providing incentives for job retention and creation, and offering a skilled workforce, we can turn this economy around."
Gongwer: BRAKE MANUFACTURER MOVES OPERATION TO MICHIGAN
Brembo North America, a subsidiary of an Italian manufacturer, will move its headquarters to and expand its manufacturing facilities in the state under tax abatements approved Tuesday by the Michigan Economic Growth Authority.
The company is consolidating its corporate and technical operations into a new headquarters in Novi from facilities in Northville, Farmington Hills and Costa Mesa, California. It also is expanding its manufacturing facility in Homer.
The project is expected to create or retain 325 jobs in the state in exchange for $3.5 million in state tax abatements over 10 years and $500,000 in job training grants.
Walt Sorg - AM Lansing 1320: Two companies are announcing expansions in Mid-Michigan, choosing Michigan over Indiana and Mexico
Listen to the interview here.
Greg O'Connor - WKHM 970 AM - Jackson: A MEGA Yes
Listen to the interview here.