LANSING – The Michigan Strategic Fund on Wednesday approved $6 million for the Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization Program, as well as Michigan Business Development and Community Revitalization program incentives to eight companies expanding in the state.

The expansions, funded by the 21st Century Jobs Fund to create high-tech jobs through commercialization of university research and creation of university spin-offs in focused areas, are expected to generate up to $95.8 million in new capital investments and add 789 jobs in Michigan, MSF said.

Of the $6 million approved, Michigan State University will receive $1.09 million for agro-biotechnology and bioprocessing. The University of Michigan will receive more than $2.4 million for life sciences and another $150,000 for a pilot project in advanced transportation. Michigan Technological University will receive $517,500 for advanced applied materials.

Both Western Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University will receive $50,000 for a commercialization roadmap preview. Wayne State University is receiving $100,000 for the same purpose, with the possibility of receiving an additional $1.07 million upon a revised proposal.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation rounds out the awards with $552,000 for an incentive fund to reward the early commercial successes that would come out of M-TRAC.

“Today’s Strategic Fund actions will mean new investments in university programs to commercialize the results of their research and business expansions across Michigan that, taken together, will promote greater economic opportunities for our businesses and citizens,” Governor Rick Snyder said in a statement. “These new investments in our state will strengthen our communities and fuel new opportunities for our talented workforce.”

The Strategic Fund also approved incentives for businesses in the Grand Rapids, Macomb Township (Macomb County), Ann Arbor, Howell, Ionia County, Muskegon, and Delhi Township (Ingham County).

Two Men and a Truck will expand its corporate headquarters in Delhi Township using $350,000 in grant money. It is expected to generate a total capital investment of up to $3.95 million and create 125 new jobs over the next five years.

Snyder, who attended an announcement ceremony, was particularly pleased with this announcement, calling the company “a homegrown success story,” he said. The company is the first and largest local moving franchise in the nation.

“The company’s new investment and the jobs it will generate shows Michigan’s economic gardening in action,” Snyder said in a statement. “It demonstrates that bold reforms to our business climate and our state’s world-class talent are now putting Michigan at the top of the nation’s best places to locate, expand and grow new jobs.”

In Grand Rapids, 614 First Street Partners LLC was approved for a $1 million of Community Revitalization Program grant money to renovate the former Miller Products Corporation factory into headquarters for Rockford Construction Company. It is expected to generate a total capital investment of up to $7.9 million and retain about 85 permanent full-time jobs.

Grand Rapids Downtown Market Holdings, LLC also received $3 million to construct a 25,000-square-foot market on multiple parcels, set to include indoor areas for a multi-vendor, year-round fresh food market, as well as space for a seasonal outdoor farmers market and other food services. Total capital investment is estimated to be $30 million and the project should create 295 new jobs.

In Macomb Township, Baker Aerospace Tooling and Machining will be able to expand with its $800,000 Business Development Program grant. It is expected to invest $9.86 million and add 188 jobs.

Ann Arbor’s Black & Veatch Corporation plans to invest at least $13.5 million and add 75 jobs, resulting in $435,000 Michigan Business Development Program grant money. Michigan was chosen over competing sites in Arizona, North Carolina and Minnesota.

Heart of Howell, LLC plans to renovate three historic properties in downtown Howell for retail, office and commercial space, expecting to generate $2.5 million in investment and create 19 full-time jobs. It was awarded a Community Revitalization Program grant of $375,868.

In Ionia County, Herbruck Poultry Ranch was awarded $500,000 to expand its egg production and processing facilities, investing up to $17.2 million and creating 55 jobs.

Finally, Parkland Muskegon received $1.95 million to renovate one of the only remaining buildings left of the structures that formerly made up the downtown Muskegon Mall. It will be converted to an eight-story residential apartment development, along with a two-story addition to provide additional residential units. It is expected to generate a total of $10.7 million in total capital investment and create two full-time jobs.

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