Michigan ranks third for corporate expansion

Site Selection magazine this month ranked Michigan the #3 state in the nation for new corporate facilities and expansions in 2009.

The global business publication verified 371 projects that met capital investment, job-creation or size standards, up from 296 is 2008, in its annual Governor's Cup ranking (http://www.siteselection.com/). It was the second consecutive year that Michigan has ranked in the top three positions. This year, Michigan was 10 projects behind first place Ohio -- which won for the fourth consecutive time -- and three in back of second-place Texas. Pennsylvania finished fourth, with 333 projects. Great Lake states were also well represented in states rounding out the top 10: Tennessee, New York, North Carolina, Illinois, Virginia and Indiana.

Major new corporate projects for Michigan in 2009 included: advanced energy storage and solar firms such as Xtreme Power and Clairvoyant Energy on the site of the former Ford Wixom assembly plant; advanced-battery development and manufacturing firms A123 Systems (Ann Arbor), Johnson Controls-Saft Advanced Power Solutions (Holland), Dow Kokam (Midland); and major expansions by General Motors and Ford for electric and hybrid vehicle production.

Site Selection also recognized Detroit-Warren-Livonia as the nation's No. 4 metro area with a population of one million or more for new and expanded corporate facilities. Among metro areas with population between 200,000 and one million, Grand Rapids-Wyoming tied for third; Holland-Grand Haven was fifth, and; Ann Arbor and Lansing-East Lansing tied for sixth.

Comments Governor Granholm: "We just witnessed a thrilling global competition where many times the difference between winning a gold or bronze medal was a mere fraction of a second. The same holds true for Michigan in this important 50-state contest. We take pride in winning the bronze, but won't rest until we win the gold. We will continue to push or go anywhere, do anything, to accomplish that goal."

The strong showing seen in a publication read by corporate real estate and site selection professionals puts Michigan in a "strong and enviable position in the face of economic distress," says Michigan Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Greg Main. "These rankings reinforce that Michigan is a top-tier location for growing companies because of our aggressive initiatives, strong business climate and hard-working and talented workforce."