LANSING — Michigan lawmakers narrowly gave final legislative approval Thursday for $175 million in state subsidies to build a nearly $2.4 billion, 2,350-job electric vehicle battery parts factory near Big Rapids planned by Gotion Inc.
It is the fourth incentives package for a new EV battery plant to be blessed by legislators in 13 months, but it was approved by a much tighter margin amid concerns about Gotion’s alleged ties to the Chinese government.
The Democratic-controlled Senate Appropriations Committee passed the grant transfers 10-9, with all six Republicans and three of 13 Democrats opposed.
Of the $175 million, $125 million will go to battery supplier Gotion Inc. and $50 million will go to The Right Place, which plans to buy land, upgrade infrastructure and do other work to prepare the megasite for the company. A state board last fall approved a $540 million, 30-year tax break for the company.
The vote followed testimony from local elected officials who support the project and said the majority of local residents back it, outside a vocal few.
Read the rest of the story at Crain’s Grand Rapids
