LANSING – New incentives are credited with helping the state attract a record $658 million in new investments by 15 companies whose projects are expected to add 6,853 jobs. Another five companies were given aid in Brownfield redevelopment projects.

The Holland area, with three projects worth $48 million and 887 jobs, got the single largest boost with the approval of the incentives by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, whose executive director Jim Epolito described as “my heroes” the company executives who choose to expand or come to Michigan in a tough economy.

Governor Jennifer Granholm said the series of projects is the largest group of job creating projects approved at a single time in the MEDC’s 13-year history. She said the most important new incentive the state used, as it beat out 15 states and two other countries vying for the projects, was new flexibility in using the programs for high-tech businesses.

Included in the brownfield list is a $400 million retail/residential/commercial project in Wyoming that will house the state’s second Cabela’s outdoor outlet. The project, expected to create 3,668 jobs, will get $39.2 million in local and school tax captured funds.

The Holland projects include:

A $7.9 million expansion by Genzink Steel Supply and Welding Company, bringing 104 jobs. The state provided a $1.1 million seven-year tax credit and $150,000 in job training funds.

A $26.1 million expansion of Request Foods for an expansion in Holland Township that will create 202 jobs. It will get a $2.5 million 10-year tax credit.

A $14 million expansion by LeanLogistics as it relocates its web-based transportation management systems and services business to Zeeland, where it will create 581 jobs. It will get an $11.8 million tax credit.

While Sen. Wayne Kuipers (R-Holland) lauded the new investment, he said he hoped the success of the targeted credits would spur the Granholm administration to work with legislators to ease the general tax burden on businesses. “Instead of just 20 tax credits statewide, imagine the economic growth the state would see by reducing the taxes for hundreds of Michigan employers,” he said.

Other projects are:

A $7.8 million Kelly Services location in Troy with 572 jobs in a consolidation of business units and the launching of a staffing program allowing employees to work from home. It will get a $4.7 million seven-year tax credit.

A $5.2 million expansion and relocation to Lyon Township of automotive testing equipment company Testek, whose facility is expected to create 27 jobs. It was given a $452,000 10-year state tax credit.

A $12.3 million expansion by Ricardo of its Van Buren Township site for a rolling chassis cynamometer facility that is expected to create 45 jobs. It will get a $2.2 million 13-year tax credit.

A 141-job expansion by Danotek Motion Technologies which is relocating to Plymouth Township where it will manufacture up to 3-mega-watt variable speed PM generators for use with wind turbines. It will get a $2.5 million 10-year state tax credit.

An $8.6 million proposed expansion by Aisin Technical Center of America in Plymouth Township where 82 jobs would be created at its technical center. It will get a $1.3 million seven-year state tax credit.

An $8 million new facility in Kalamazoo by Business Intelligence Associates of New York which is expected to hire 251 attorneys and paralegals for services aiding organizations to manage the collection, transfer and preservation of digital evidence and data. It will get a $2.7 million seven-year state tax credit.

A $10.1 million expansion by Precision Aerospace of its Grand Rapids and Wyoming operations where it will create $190 jobs for its aerospace and defense manufacturing. It will get a $2.5 million 10-years state tax credit.

A $3.6 million expansion by Terumo Cardiovascular Systems to relocate to Scio Township where 65 new employees will manufacture and market products for cardiac and vascular surgery to hospitals. It will get a $855,000 seven-year state tax credit.

A 121-job expansion by GDI Infotech Inc. of Ann Arbor for a new solutions division that will break down information silos, build solid data foundation and provide business intelligence reports. It will get a $1.5 million seven-year state tax credit.

A $3.5 million expansion by Ameriwood Industries for its ready-to-assemble furniture plant in Dowagiac where it will create 100 jobs. It will get a $695,000 seven-year state tax credit.

A $5.5 million expansion by Wolverine World Wide in Big Rapids to produce combat boots for the U.S. Air Force, creating 115 jobs. It will get a $693,000 seven-year state tax credit.

The following Brownfield tax credits also were approved:

$7.4 million for Eberspaecher North America to expand its Brighton facility, retaining 171 jobs and creating 105.

$9.6 million for developer REDICO Holdings, along with $14.2 million in state and local tax recapture, for redevelopment of an East Dearborn store site for a $68 million mixed-use project expected to create 206 jobs.

$185,264 in state tax capture plus local obsolete properties rehabilitation abatements for a $4 million redevelopment of a block in Ypsilanti.

$392,922 in state and local tax capture for a $3.5 million redevelopment of a former hotel site for a credit union’s use in Lansing.

$255,750 in state and local tax capture for a $1.2 million Chemical Bank demolition of a vacant building in Cadillac and construction of a retail/bank facility.

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