Gov. Whitmer Announces Michigan Wins 294 Jobs After Supporting Three Business Expansions in Oakland, St. Joseph, Ingham Counties

• Visioneering, Inc. announcing expansion in Auburn Hills, creating 238 new jobs • Carter Associates consolidating and renovating locations in St. Joseph County, adding 20 jobs • Molded Plastics Industries announcing expansion, creating 36 new jobs

LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) announced that Michigan won three business expansions creating 294 new jobs and bringing $34.8 million of investment home to Michigan. The expansions, in the village of Burr Oak, City of Auburn Hills, and Delhi Charter Township, received support from the Michigan Strategic Fund.

“Today’s investments will create hundreds of good-paying jobs and build on our economic momentum, said Governor Whitmer. “Michigan-based companies are continuing to believe in and invest in Michigan, creating opportunities across the state and driving our unemployment rate down to a 23-year low. Let’s keep working hand in hand with communities and businesses to ensure anyone can ‘make it’ in Michigan with the support and resources they need to thrive.”

“It is always rewarding to see Michigan-based companies grow and create good-paying jobs here in the state, while supporting projects that help create the vibrant communities that our workforce is able to live, work and play in,” said MEDC Sr. Vice President of Regional Prosperity Matt McCauley. “We are proud to work with our local partners on these three projects that will help to drive economic opportunity across Michigan.”

Visioneering, Inc., founded in 1953 and headquartered in Auburn Hills, is a full-service design and build aerospace tooling supplier. The company currently employs approximately 260 Michiganders at its Auburn Hills and Fraser facilities.

Visioneering plans to expand at its existing facility in Auburn Hills to support its growth within the commercial aerospace, defense, and space sectors. The project will include the addition of 133,664 square feet of space that will create additional height and crane capacity.

The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $25 million and create 238 jobs with the support of an $880,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. Michigan was chosen for the expansion over competing sites in the southern region of the U.S. due to the company’s existing talent base and relationship with Michigan-based suppliers.

Throughout its 70-year history, the company has been committed to supporting local metro Detroit suppliers. In 2022, Visioneering purchased more than 80 percent of its raw materials, commercial items, supplies and outside services from Michigan-based suppliers.

The project will bring 238 well-paying aerospace jobs and will build on the state’s work to position itself as a leader in the aerospace industry. It will also solidify the company’s presence and future business in the state. The city of Auburn Hills has offered a 50-percent tax abatement in support of the project.

“Companies like Visioneering, with their expertise and state of the art innovations are paving the way for the future,” said Auburn Hills Mayor Kevin R. McDaniel. “As a leader in the aerospace industry, their reinvestment in Auburn Hills will contribute to the city’s strong, diverse, local economy through jobs and investment. We appreciate their confidence and look forward partnering with them to continue to provide an environment where their business can grow and thrive.” The city of Auburn Hills has offered a 50-percent tax abatement in support of the project.

Carter Associates, Inc., headquartered in the village of Burr Oak (St. Joseph County), manufactures reusable green packaging products including shipping totes, thermoformed packaging and pallets, produce sleeves, and more. The company also manufactures electric heating panels for low energy-consuming heat sources for customers in the agribusiness, construction and automotive industries. The company has three locations in Michigan and currently employs 18 Michiganders.

Carter Associates currently operates out of two locations in Burr Oak and plans to consolidate into one, which will require renovating and retooling 35,000 square feet of manufacturing space to support current and future customer demand.

The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $3 million and create 20 jobs with the support of a $100,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. Michigan was chosen for the expansion over competing sites in Indiana and Wisconsin due to the company’s existing talent base and relationships it has established in the community. The project will bring immediate advanced manufacturing jobs to the region with a large and expanding company that manufactures revolutionary green products and will solidify the company’s presence and future business in the state.

“Southwest Michigan First is pleased to celebrate the continued growth of Carter Associates, a forward-thinking manufacturer of reusable packaging solutions, signage, and state of the art electric heat panels for the automotive, agribusiness, and construction industries in St. Joseph County,” said Southwest Michigan First CEO Jonas Peterson. “Carter Associates’ decision to expand operations at their Burr Oak and Sturgis facilities will see them double in size, resulting in up to 20 great jobs for the region. This project further diversifies Southwest Michigan’s dynamic supply chain and enables Carter Associates to enhance production and continue to scale right here in our community.”

Carter Associates provides on-the-job training and supports personal growth for all its employees by offering opportunities to engage and grow their skillsets. The company utilizes Michigan Works! to reach local talent in disadvantaged areas and underrepresented employees and is open to helping employees obtain access to its facility for career positions.

“The St. Joseph County Edge is excited to see this great company grow. Carter Associates demonstrates the kind of innovation that continues to strengthen the St Joseph County business environment,” said Kenneth Jones Senior, Chairman, EDGE. “Carter Associates is a great company that supports great people in two great communities in St. Joseph County and we can’t wait to see the results of their investment.”

The city of Sturgis has offered staff time and resources in support of the project. Information on careers with Carter Associates can be found on their website.

Molded Plastics Industries (MPI) LLC, founded in 1974 in Holt, manufactures custom molded fiberglass and thermoplastic products serving the electric and specialty vehicle and medical industries. The company was acquired by Troy, Michigan-based National Composites in 2019 and currently has 51 employees in Michigan.

MPI has been awarded several substantial new programs in the healthcare and electric vehicle markets that will require a large amount of production space not available at the company’s current operations. The company plans to expand on 13 acres near its existing facility in Delhi Township, where it will add new fiberglass processing equipment and CNC cells.

The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $6.8 million and create 36 jobs with the support of a $125,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. The company chose Michigan for the expansion over competing sites in Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wyoming due to the company’s history and existing talent base in the state.

MPI supports its employees with guaranteed wage increases and training, taking employees with no experience and providing a pathway forward. The company also offers profit sharing and annual merit increases. The project supports the state’s work to position itself as the global leader in the future of mobility and automotive manufacturing and will bring immediate job growth with an expanding auto supplier. It will also support the company’s presence and future growth in the state.

“We are thrilled for this expansion of manufacturing investment right here in Holt, and offer our congratulations to Molded Plastic Inc. on securing funding that will expand their operations and create new jobs,” said state Senator Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing). “It is through local efforts such as these that we are able to make a difference in the lives and livelihoods of people in our communities.”

“The Lansing region, and Michigan, are an electric vehicle manufacturing and supply chain hot spot. MPI’s expansion in the region is a vital addition as the Lansing region rapidly builds the future of mobility,” said Bob Trezise, President and CEO of the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP). “Of course, projects like this are possible because of great partners, especially the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and Delhi Township. Congratulations to all!”

The Lansing Economic Area Partnership has provided staff time and resources assisting the company in identifying workforce and local incentives to ensure the expansion occurs in Delhi Township. Information on careers with MPI is available on their website.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.