LANSING – The Michigan Economic Development Corporation on Wednesday announced six companies, including La-Z-Boy and Founders Brewing Company, will invest $117 million and add about 295 jobs in the state.

La-Z-Boy is expected to build a new world headquarters in Monroe, generating at least $47 million in new private investment and adding a projected 50 jobs alone, the MEDC said.

“The La-Z-Boy name is synonymous with quality and comfort, and it is great news this longstanding Michigan company chose to make large, new investments here,” MEDC President and CEO Michael Finney said in a statement. “La-Z-Boy’s continued commitment sends a message that will be heard around the world that Michigan’s highly competitive business climate and tremendous workforce capabilities mean real opportunities for leading edge businesses.”

The company has been headquartered in Monroe for 85 years and is one of the world’s leading residential furniture producers, the MEDC said.

Also, Founders Brewing was approved for a $2 million Michigan Business Development Program incentive to expand its Grand Rapids facility, which will generate about $26 million in new private investment and add about 52 new jobs.

“The craft beer market continues to grow, and demand for Founders beers has caused our growth to outpace average industry growth,” Founders Brewing President and CEO Mike Stevens said in a statement. “Meeting this demand requires a significant upfront investment in additional facility area and, more importantly, in additional equipment. We are grateful for this incentive assistance, which will allow us to keep up with demand and to be in a position to hire more people to help us grow the brewery.”

The company began in Grand Rapids in 1997 as a sparse tap room and small beer production facility, the MEDC said. Now, the company has increased production by 15 times with a network of 62 distributors across 23 states.

Lofts on Monroe, LLC, also located in Grand Rapids, has also been awarded a grant from the Strategic Fund to the tune of $475,000 for the renovation of a vacant five-story historic building at 16 Monroe Center. The final product will include retail, commercial and residential space, the MEDC said, generating a total capital investment of up to $3.4 million and creating five full-time jobs.

Also on the west side of the state, Mueller Plastics Corporation plans to open its first Michigan operation in Portage, investing up to $26.1 million and creating 63 jobs, the MEDC said. Michigan was chosen over competing sites in Mississippi and Tennessee.

On the east side of the state, OPS Solutions, LLC – now based in Northville – will expand its office and workshop space in Novi, investing $268,000 and creating 25 new jobs. Its project is to launch a new visual guiding system that guides workers using visual display features anywhere on a work station surface, improving quality, productivity and training efficiency for nearly any manual process, the MEDC said.

Finally, Port Huron will use school and local tax capture valued at $2.2 million to develop approximately 12 acres at and around 500 Thomas Edison Parkway, known as the 500 Thomas Edison Parkway Project. The funds will be used for a mixed-use development including a county-owned and operated convention center, redevelopment of the Thomas Edison Inn, and expansion of the adjoining restaurant and construction of the Baker College Culinary Institute. It is expected to generate a total capital investment of $14.3 million and create 100 permanent new jobs.

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