Businesses commit $55.1 million to investments in Macomb

Posted on August 11, 2011

Macomb County received commitments from 11 local businesses to invest a combined $55.1 million and add 639 new jobs during the first half of 2011, according to a report Tuesday from its Planning and Economic Development Department.

That’s compared with a total of 19 economic development deals for businesses to invest $53.8 million and add a combined 975 local jobs during the first six months of 2010.

Two of the 11 deals in the county’s latest economic impact report were previously-announced incentives approved by the Michigan Economic Growth Authority: a $24.2 million dollar investment by French auto supplier Faurecia to add 428 jobs in Fraser, and a $4.7 million by KUKA Robotics Corp. to add 10 jobs and retain 68 after relocating its Clinton Township headquarters to Shelby Township.

The county typically prepares the economic impact report every six months. Local economic development officials have said some business investments have been in limbo or awaiting resolution since Gov. Snyder originally proposed replacing the traditional incentives MEGA has awarded for years.

“These are very impressive job and investment numbers that show our economy is turning the corner,” Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said in a statement. “I am pleased that 11 companies have chosen to invest in Macomb County to retain and create high quality jobs for our citizens. I commend our planning and economic development specialists for their hard work and responsiveness to our corporate community.”

Other business investments in the latest economic impact report include:

Ceratizit Michigan Inc., the subsidiary of German hard materials manufacturer Ceratizit SA, which proposes consolidating all its U.S. operations in Warren under a plan to invest $13.9 million and add 75 local jobs to its local 140 employees.

RCO Engineering Inc., a durability and fatigue testing company to invest $2.6 million and add 35 jobs and retain 300 jobs in Roseville.

BMT Aerospace USA Inc., a maker of gears and gearboxes for the aerospace industry, to invest $5.5 million and add up to 30 new local jobs in Roseville.

• Ideal Technologies, to invest $80,000 and add up to 23 possible new local jobs in Shelby Township.

Baker Machining & Mold Technologies Inc. and Avon Gear Co., to invest $2.5 million and $2.3 million respectively and add up to 15 new jobs each at their headquarters in Macomb and Shelby townships.

Eifel Mold & Engineering Inc., a defense and homeland security contractor company to invest up to $578,000 and add up to seven new local jobs in Fraser.

Dynamic Intelligent Systems, to invest $225,000 and add one new job while retaining three jobs in Clinton Township.

By Chad Holcom