®
Featured on cover:
Top Left: Mastronardi Produce – Coldwater
Bottom Left: Pictured Rocks – Munising
Bottom Right: Shinola – Detroit
Welcome to Michigan, a place of natural beauty and a state experiencing
great economic growth. There’s no better place for business than Michigan.
We’re a state of inventors and entrepreneurs, of researchers and problem
solvers, and world class manufacturers.
You’ll find Michigan is an strategic location for your investment and an
ideal place to conduct business. Among the advantages are a geographic
location within 500 miles (800 kilometers) of half the U.S. and Canadian
markets, and access to a world-class talent pool and top-rated university
system. Further, with a simple, fair and flat 6 percent corporate income tax,
Michigan can proudly claim one of the best tax environments for business
in the country.
Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is our state’s lead
advocate for business development and economic growth, with numerous
resources to help businesses get started and expand. The MEDC is ready
to assist companies from around the globe in all aspects of their site
location efforts.
There are many factors to consider when deciding where to locate your
business. Beyond the many economic advantages, Michigan is the perfect
place to live, vacation and raise a family. From miles of Great Lakes
shoreline to acres of state parks and forests, to quaint small towns and
exciting urban areas, we invite you to come and see just how enjoyable life
can be when it’s Pure Michigan.
Sincerely,
Rick Snyder
Governor
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RICH TALENT POOL
Michigan is the center of the greatest concentration of
skilled and engineering talent in the world. Not only
is the education level of Michigan’s manufacturing
workforce one of the highest in the nation, we are
home to the fourth largest high-tech workforce in the
United States.
Graduates of Michigan’s nationally ranked supply
chain programs are helping industry succeed globally
by reducing costs through complex supplier and
customer logistics solutions. Michigan hosts nationally
ranked supply chain management programs at
Michigan State University, the University of Michigan,
and Western Michigan University.
Michigan is a right-to-work state. Our world-class
workforce is free to decide whether union membership
is right for them while preserving the roles of unions
and collective bargaining.
Grow in Michigan
Michigan is poised to become a top 10 state for
economic growth, job creation, and quality of life. In the past three years, hundreds of companies, both
domestic and international, have invested in Michigan’s
success.
Michigan continues to invent and reinvent new
methods for high-quality, low-cost production.
Michigan companies grow and increase productivity
by leveraging our hardworking and skilled workforce,
who are attracted by our excellent quality of life.
Michigan boasts a low cost of living, world-class cities
and four seasons of recreational opportunity.
Michigan is leading with the foresight, innovation,
and the economic tools needed to build a strong,
prosperous business ecosystem. The Michigan
Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) provides
numerous resources for business development
and economic growth. Working closely with local
communities, MEDC will support your needs by
providing high-quality information, services and
connections for better decision-making and successful
project investments. Michigan’s governor, state
government, and a multitude of partners and experts
collaborate to provide what your company needs to
make a site location decision.
Downtown Grand Rapids
• Fourth most business-friendly tax ranking among nation’s 12 most populated states
• Ranked among the top ten states for major new corporate facilities and expansions
• Reform of manufacturing personal property tax estimated to cut business taxes by $500 million annually
• Michigan is a right-to-work state
And that’s just the beginning.
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Michigan’s manufacturing industry has
more than 500,000 talented workers,
including over 87,000 engineers and
70,000 R&D professionals.
Kettering University is among the top five for
auto industry job preparation.
University of Michigan ranks in the top 10 for
aerospace, biomedical, computer, materials
science, and mechanical engineering.
During 2011–2012, Michigan colleges
awarded more than 25,000 STEM (science,
technology, engineering, mathematics)
degrees.
Research Vault
Michigan State University, East Lansing
Michigan State University has eight ranked
engineering graduate programs.
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STRONG
R&D PARTNERSHIPS
MANUFACTURING
STRENGTH
Jeff Fettig, CEO of Whirlpool
Founded in 1911, Benton Harbor’s Whirlpool began by producing
electric, motor-driven wringer washers. Today, Whirlpool Corporation is
the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances,
with annual sales of more than $20 billion in 2014.
Michigan manufacturing is going strong. The state continues to
lead the way as new and disruptive manufacturing technologies and
techniques are introduced, refined and industrialized. Michigan is
powered by the greatest concentration of skilled and engineering
talent in the United States. Almost 14,000 manufacturing
establishments have access to one of the largest concentrations of
industrial research and development in the country.
Automation and innovation continue to drive Michigan’s success as
a highly productive, high-quality source of complex products and
systems. We are masters at developing the most efficient solutions
for volume production of high-quality goods and are global leaders
in the development of new materials, integrated systems and new
applications of technology.
The automotive sector continues to be a key Michigan industry.
Automotive isn’t the whole story, though. Michigan is a leading
manufacturer of food and beverage products, chemicals, plastics,
rubber, wood and furniture products. The state has also diversified its
manufacturing expertise to foster growth in other industries such as
defense, aerospace, information technologies and robotics.
2.4 MILLION
in annual light vehicle production,
23% of the U.S. total
1,400 metalworking machinery
manufacturing facilities, including
640 tool and die shops
13 automotive assembly plants
MICHIGANDERS BUILD A LOT
MORE THAN JUST CARS...
#1 office furniture industry
employment
#5 primary metal manufacturing
employment
#6 machinery manufacturing
employment
40 battery supply chain companies
4,000 defense contractors,
$3 billion in Department of
Defense contracts
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Visteon, Van Buren Township
Headquartered in Van Buren Township, Visteon designs and engineers components and systems for virtually every vehicle
manufacturer worldwide. Visteon’s 25,000 innovative employees contributed to 2014 sales of more than $7.5 billion.
Michigan is leading the way for technical and scientific
innovation as the center of a region that has received
hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for
manufacturing innovation. State government, universities
and industry are working together to create a network that
provides a deep resource for industry.
Michigan State University’s National Superconducting
Cyclotron Laboratory is a world-leading rare isotope
and nuclear science research facility. It’s also the future
home of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB),
a $72 million project that will further advance this research.
Michigan’s University Research Corridor, an
Michigan is home to the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency’s National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions
Laboratory (NVFEL) providing opportunities to
rapidly consult with experts who can provide a wide array
of dynamometer and analytical testing and engineering
services, leading to federal emissions and fuel economy
standards certifications required for U.S. markets.
alliance among Michigan State University, University
of Michigan and Wayne State University, draws federal
academic research dollars to the state. Michigan’s 15 public
universities, more than 60 independent universities and
colleges, and 28 community colleges grant nearly 1,500
Ph.D.s every year, almost twice the national average.
These universities spark regional economic development
through innovation, educate a workforce prepared for the
knowledge economy, and attract smart and talented people
to Michigan. Detroit’s American Lightweight Materials
Manufacturing Innovation Institute (ALMMII),
The state of Michigan is currently utilizing “real-world”
deployment of comprehensive, multi-modal connected
vehicle systems on more than 2,800 vehicles (passenger,
commercial and transit buses). The Michigan Department
of Transportation, University of Michigan’s Mobility
Transformation Center, automakers, and the U.S.
Department of Transportation have collaborated to form
the Southeast Michigan Connected Vehicle Test
Bed, the most extensive test bed in the nation.
serves U.S. manufacturing by supporting innovative
technologies for cost-effective lightweighting of
components for the transportation industries. A newly
awarded composite materials center will partner with Oak
Ridge National Laboratory to focus on advanced composite
material processing and component development for the
automotive industry. 7
MICHIGAN
MEANS SUCCESS
KEY MICHIGAN
INDUSTRIES
Newell Rubbermaid
“Great performance, design and innovation make all the difference between a standard product and one
that wins with consumers. Our new state-of-the-art Design Center will provide a collaborative environment
to help us bring our biggest and best ideas to market and better meet the needs of our consumers
worldwide,” said Chuck Jones, Newell Rubbermaid’s chief design and research & development officer.
Roush Performance, Livonia
Advanced materials
Michigan is a technology leader in next generation
materials. Companies, universities and two federally funded
manufacturing technology institutes are leading the way
in the development of materials and technologies for
manufacturing and joining lightweight materials.
Aerospace
Recently named #2 in aerospace manufacturing
attractiveness by PwC, Michigan is home to more than 150
direct aerospace manufacturers and suppliers. Carbon
fiber companies, major tooling and engineering software
providers and universities offer resources to fuel the
industry. Top-ranked aerospace engineering programs at
the University of Michigan and Lawrence Technological
University provide a talented workforce and access to
millions spent annually on research to support the industry.
Agriculture and food processing
Michigan is second only to California in terms of agricultural
diversity and produces more than 300 commodities,
contributing more than $100 billion to the state’s economy
each year. Food industry leaders such as Gerber, Post,
Kellogg’s and Vlasic are converting crops into finished
consumer products. Michigan firms are successfully applying
innovative processing technologies such as aseptic filling
and flash-freezing, backed by academic and government
institutions that support agricultural production, research
and development.
Alternative energy
Michigan has made significant investments to foster robust
supply chains in several alternative energy sectors. Changing
regulatory environments and market pressures have created
opportunities to leverage those assets.
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Automotive
The state produces more cars and trucks than any other
state, ranking 13th in the world among nations and other
states. Michigan also hosts 375 domestic and international
automotive R&D centers. Seventy-five percent of the U.S.
total spending on auto-related R&D is spent in Michigan.
Information technology
Michigan is home to respected companies in cyber
security, data management and digital health. Universities
and focused expertise such as the Henry Ford Innovation
Institute are writing new chapters in the textbook for
digital health systems. The Michigan Cyber Range stands
as a unique public resource to teach, train, and test the
security of strategic systems in the safety of an isolated
world.
Intelligent transportation systems
Emerging opportunities in connected and automated
vehicle technologies such as sonar, radar, infrared camera,
and car-to-car wireless communications are being
developed by a diverse range of Michigan companies,
entrepreneurs and universities.
Tourism
Tourism is one of the largest industries in Michigan,
generating nearly $23 billion of direct spending in 2014.
The award-winning Pure Michigan campaign highlights
Michigan’s world-class attractions and welcomes visitors
from around the globe. The state is a popular golf
destination, offering more than 800 public golf courses.
Michigan is home to some of the best freshwater fishing
anywhere, generating more than $2 billion in an economic
impact each year.
A Fortune 500 company, Newell Rubbermaid’s portfolio includes more than 40 brands including Calphalon,
Dymo, Goody, Levolor, Rubbermaid, Sharpie and Waterman. When the company decided to consolidate design
and test facilities across their portfolio of products, they chose Michigan because of our strengths in innovative
product design, prototyping and testing.
Eissmann Group Automotive
“We conducted a very thorough multi-state search for a location that would maximize our ability to service
existing and future customers,” said Brian Tinney, President of Eissmann Automotive North America, Inc.
“Ultimately, location and availability of workforce drove the site decision.”
This global leader in the manufacture of automotive components established a North American headquarters and
new manufacturing facility in Port Huron. Competing with sites in Ohio and Indiana, Michigan’s location and skilled
workforce drove Eissmann’s decision to locate in the state.
CITIC Dicastal Co. Ltd.
“It’s a testament to the value proposition of manufacturing in the U.S and the cost creep of labor and
logistics of building (products in) China. There are more companies looking at the North American market for
growth.” Mike Wall, from IHS Automotive Group, a leading industry analysis firm.
The world’s largest aluminum wheel manufacturer is opening a new aluminum alloy wheel manufacturing plant
in Greenville to produce three million wheels annually. The China-based company chose Michigan due to its
proximity to key customers, talent availability, and assistance with site selection.
Mahindra USA, Inc.
“Michigan provided us the perfect eco-system to step up our U.S. presence. We were able to draw on the
terrific automotive engineering and manufacturing talent available in the state, to create industry leading
initiatives for the United States,” said Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group.
An international conglomerate based in India, Mahindra has chosen Michigan for two significant North American
operations. The company recently opened its North American Technical Center in Troy, drawing upon Michigan’s
rich automotive talent to provide design and consulting services for Mahindra Global Automotive and other
customers. This development comes close on the heels of the new Mahindra GenZe production center in Ann
Arbor, where the innovative, all-new GenZe electric scooter will be manufactured.
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GATEWAY TO
NORTH AMERICA
GLOBAL COMPANIES
Michigan is well served by air, rail, water and surface
transport. We are located within 500 miles (800
kilometers) of almost half of U.S. and Canadian
population and income, with ready access to the major
metropolitan areas of Chicago, Indianapolis, Toronto,
Cleveland, Cincinnati, St. Louis and Minneapolis.
International companies employ more than 225,000 Michiganders. These companies have invested in Michigan to
benefit from our manufacturing and technical expertise. Nearly half of these companies are involved in automotiverelated industries, with strong representation in manufacturing, equipment and automation, and product research and
development. Finance and insurance are also major employers who rely on Michigan’s wealth of strong talent.
Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) is a major hub for
passenger travel and Willow Run Airport is one of the
busiest on-demand cargo airports in North America.
DTW has emerged as a major gateway to Asia with 280
international flights weekly, including nonstop service
to Shanghai and Beijing, China; Seoul-Incheon, South
Korea; and Tokyo and Nagoya, Japan.
Just a few of the global companies that call Michigan home:
Ally Financial, Detroit | Financial Services
Auto-Owners Insurance, Lansing | Insurance
Dow Chemical Corporation, Midland | Chemicals and Advanced Materials
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn | Automobiles
Michigan is connected to the Atlantic Ocean’s Port of
Halifax and three other deep-water ports along the St.
Clair River at the Canadian border crossing. Michigan rail
seamlessly connects to the Port of Halifax, and barges
and steamers carry some 150 million tons of cargo
through the 2,300 mile (3,700 kilometers) St. Lawrence
Seaway to Great Lakes ports each year.
General Motors Corporation, Detroit | Automobiles
Lear Corporation, Southfield | Automotive Components
Steelcase Corporation, Grand Rapids | Office Furniture
Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo | Medical Devices
These international companies make Michigan home for their North American headquarters
Downtown Detroit
Nexteer Automotive, China | Automotive Components
ThyssenKrupp, Germany | Automotive Components
Zurich Insurance Group/Farmers Insurance, Switzerland | Insurance
Prudential/Jackson National Life, United Kingdom | Insurance
Detroit Metropolitan Airport is one of the
largest U.S. air hubs to Asia.
CANAD
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Nestlé/Gerber Products, Switzerland | Food
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Fiat/Chrysler, Netherlands | Automobiles
North America’s busiest
commercial border crossing.
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Yazaki Corporation, Japan | Automotive Components
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Perrigo Company, Ireland | Pharmaceuticals
Trade capital of the NAFTA corridor, one of
the largest foreign trade zones in the U.S.
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SMR Automotive Systems, India | Automotive Components
800
Magna International, Canada | Automotive Components
Michigan is a key connection point along the PanAmerican Highway that spans from Canada through
the U.S. and into Mexico. Nine international border
crossings offer unlimited access to Canada, our largest
trading partner. Foreign trade zones located across
the state allow companies to reduce their logistics and
import expenses, while competing in a global economy.
Minneapolis
Toronto
Milwaukee
Detroit
Chicago
Toledo
New York City
Philadelphia
Cleveland
Pittsburgh
Indianapolis
800
Four Class I railroads, connecting the
state to the North American rail network.
Rochester
Buffalo
Baltimore
Cincinnati
Richmond
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Raleigh-Durham
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Louisville
et
5
00
m
ile
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St. Louis
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A second Detroit-Windsor bridge is slated
for construction within the next five years.
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The MEDC helps create more and better jobs by
accelerating
business
investments,
increasing
community vitality, matching talent supply with
demand, and building the state’s exceptional Pure
Michigan brand.
MEDC GLOBAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROVIDES
Information
Regional markets
Business costs (utilities, labor, etc.)
Sites and buildings
michiganbusiness.org
Introductions
Government departments and officials
Professional services firms
Customers and suppliers
Incentives
Workforce development resources
Tax abatements
Grants and loans
888.522.0103
3315-150601