$11 Million Invested In Saginaw County
Saginaw Future, the economic development agency for Saginaw County, reported Friday that in the first quarter of 2011, it assisted eight companies that invested nearly $11 million in the county, creating and retaining 927 jobs.
Business attractions were as follows:
* Morley Companies, Inc. continues to expand its data collection and research services, along with customer technical and support services for Fortune 100 clients. Due to additional business contracts, Morley has proposed the addition of 911 jobs (150 to 200 per year until 2015). Morley also expects to invest more than $7 million in real and personal property improvements in Saginaw Charter Township. Saginaw Future assisted the company through the state process for its MEGA application. The Michigan Economic Development Corp. approved a MEGA credit in support of the expansion.
* Downtown Area Development LLC plans to increase the size of its new medical office building by 6,200 sq. ft. and will invest an additional $1.6 million. The building will be located on the 900 block of S. Washington Ave. in the City of Saginaw. Midwest Surgical Associates will be located on the first floor and the second floor will offer 11,100 square feet of available medical and office space. Saginaw Future helped to secure a brownfield Michigan Business Tax credit for the project, which was approved by the Michigan Economic Growth Authority.
* Kapex Manufacturing LLC is a machining and fabrication shop, which currently has a manufacturing location in southeast Michigan. Kapex contacted SF to assist in establishing a Saginaw County site, which led to a location on Christy Way in Saginaw Charter Township. The company has relocated four engineering and purchasing staff members and plans to eventually bring part of its manufacturing operations to the location. SF will continue to work with Kapex on upcoming expansion plans.
Business expansions were:
* Zentx Media Group, a full service graphics provider, announced plans for the construction of a new building, which will be located adjacent to the MBS International Airport. It will house operations and production under one roof on a 10-acre site on West Freeland Road. Currently Zentx has two locations -- a main office in Freeland and a custom fabrication and production site in Midland. With approximately 12,000 square feet at the new location, the company will have the space and capabilities for large-scale projects and mobile interactive spaces, in addition to everyday projects. Zentx will invest a total of $1 million and add three new positions.
* Miller Mold Co. is a Saginaw Charter Township company that manufactures aluminum molds and dies, as well special tooling for the thermoform plastics industry. The company continues to upgrade its equipment and software programs to reduce setup, down-time, eliminate errors and increase efficiencies in order to compete with the best price possible. Miller Mold has also joined a consortium of thermoform companies in hopes of cooperatively competing for business in the industry.
* Micron Precision Machining invested more than $200,000 in new equipment purchases, which upgraded its inspection and milling department. The company added a new Zeiss Coordinate Measuring Machine and a Haas Vertical Machining Center. Micron Precision is located in Buena Vista Charter Township, has 27 employees and plans to add an additional two positions as a result of this project.
* InCal Technologies, Inc. expanded for the third time in two years. The company added more than $60,000 in new equipment to its inspection and calibration department. InCal also expanded its Buena Vista Charter Township facility to accommodate the new equipment. The company added two new positions as a result of this project.
* Cignys Corp. purchased a new paint line and forklifts for its Saginaw location. The equipment completes Cignys' capital investment program to make the company more competitive. This was the ninth Cignys investment in the last four years at all of its locations, totaling nearly $2.5 million.
Also, seven regional companies won 23 government contracts valued at more than $75 million.
Established in 1992, Saginaw Future is a public-private alliance of local businesses, the County of Saginaw, City of Saginaw, 16 local municipalities and the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce.
SF's strategic partners also include education, labor and government. More at www.SaginawFuture.com.
