Friday, August 1, 2025
Why CEOs and Business Leaders Choose Michigan
Companies choose to invest in Michigan for a variety of reasons, but chief among them is the consistent support they receive from Team Michigan, including the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and its many partners at the local, regional, and state levels.
Here are just a few of the many happy CEOs and other business leaders who have invested in business facilities and operations in Michigan:
A key factor in our decision was the talented workforce in Michigan, which will be a critical factor in the success of our business. We couldn’t be more excited about the future in Michigan.
A growing manufacturer in the defense solutions space, Great Lakes Sound & Vibration (GLSV) of Houghton County in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (U.P.) is finding success as a small-town business with a worldwide impact.
GLSV has utilized various programs and service providers from Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) for several years, finding assistance at key points in the company's growth. These resources have helped the multi-functional engineering company to find new markets, expand in the U.P. and better its business.
“We are grateful for the MEDC’s partnership on this expansion project that supports our mission to provide complete customer-specific solutions for sound, vibration, and shock problems in the North American defense market," said Steve Mattson, CEO of Great Lakes Sound & Vibration. "We are committed to providing rewarding career opportunities in our community to deliver solutions and products that meet or exceed customer and regulatory requirements.”
The reason we moved to Michigan is we felt very strongly that it's a great, ripe state for an OEM manufacturing company. We utilize and leverage the amazing partnerships and groups in Michigan that are engineering, tooling, supply chain, different component manufacturers, and different testing facilities. We’re the highest-performance two-wheel motorcycle in America, and now here we are in Michigan. We’re utilizing the talent, the people, and the programs that are available to help us grow here in the state.
Aiye Akhigbe never dreamed of becoming a small business owner, and it was fate that brought her to Michigan in the first place. As the owner of Sticky Spoons Jam, she has embraced the path of entrepreneurship – and the state’s agricultural offerings.
Born in Nigeria, Aiye moved to New York for college and worked there for the next decade. She took a job in Washington state and later joined the Navy, where she met her future partner while stationed aboard the USS Tortuga in Sasebo, Japan. As it turned out, her significant other was from Niles, Michigan, and that love connection brought Aiye across the globe to the Great Lakes State. The couple settled in Niles after her honorable discharge in 2011, and they began to raise a family. Aiye’s journey to becoming a small business owner was just as unexpected, but now she is committed to putting Michigan fruit at the front and center of her business. When she makes any of her jam blends, 50% of the fruit must be grown in the state, and her business works with small, family-owned farms in Southwest Michigan.
“I tell everyone, we are the agricultural hub of the country. Southwest Michigan grows almost everything I need," said Akhigbe. "We source 95% of our fruits from small family-owned farms within a 30-mile radius of our location. This allows us to create unique flavors using Michigan fruit. Last year, we incorporated produce in our jams by mixing jalapeno with strawberry, raspberry, and peach. This year, we tested a spicy dill pickle jelly and tomato jam, all sourced locally. I know I can purchase less expensive fruit from other states for jam production, but nothing tastes better than a Michigan peach. Nothing tastes better than a Michigan strawberry. We are committed to working with families that are involved in keeping agriculture alive in Southwest Michigan.”
We are proud to continue investing in our community and the great state of Michigan. With the support of the MEDC, we will enhance our commitment to manufacturing high-quality products while strengthening and contributing to the local economy. This investment opens additional markets, supports new growth, and enhances our presence as a premium employer in Southwest Michigan.
Envergia Incorporated, an industry leader in lithium-ion and electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling, announced plans in January to build out a 115,560-sq.-ft. facility in Detroit to house and operate the machinery and equipment required to recycle batteries into black mass materials. This investment will contribute to lowering the carbon footprint of the battery supply chain and the demand for new raw materials.
“Detroit is the perfect home for Envergia’s expansion into North America. This was abundantly evident from our first visit to the city. This city embodies resilience, innovation, and opportunity,” said MJ Chandilya, Envergia Founder & CEO. “By partnering with the City of Detroit and MEDC, Envergia is not just scaling our vision for clean energy—we are investing in Michigan’s future, creating jobs, and ensuring that Detroit continues to lead in building a sustainable economy.”
This state is unmatched in the resources that it offers to small businesses, emerging businesses, and people like us who want to grow and become big businesses. Whether it’s MDARD, Michigan Women Forward, the MEDC, or hyper-local programs like we have in Marquette, there is so much happening for entrepreneurs — and specifically for female entrepreneurs — that there's no way we can leave. We feel so lucky to be launching our business in such a supportive and beautiful place.
This story and more like it can be found in the Michigan Economic Development Guide. The 2025-26 edition of the Michigan Economic Development Guide from Site Selection Magazine is a comprehensive and inclusive look at the range of industries, resources, and initiatives that show anyone can ‘Make It in Michigan.’