SAGINAW CO., Mich. (WNEM) – More money for manufacturing is coming to mid-Michigan.
Corning is set to receive a significant amount in federal tax breaks for its project in Saginaw County’s Richland Township.
This development, coupled with Hemlock Semiconductor’s expansion in Thomas Township, means more than a thousand jobs are on the way.
Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! serves Bay, Gratiot, Isabella, Midland, and Saginaw counties, and Kristen Wenzel, its CEO, said job seekers that utilize their services in all five locations should benefit.
“Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! serves five counties. And where these announcements are located, I anticipate that we’ll be able to draw from all five of those counties to be able to support the workforce needs of the region,” she said.
She said now is the time for new potential employees of Hemlock Semiconductor or Corning to prepare for expected job openings.
“Make sure that their resume is up to date. They can also take advantage of a variety of workshops that we have available to anyone, whether they’re employed currently, or looking for work,” Wenzel said.
This week, TV5 learned that HSC in Thomas Township is getting up to $325 million from the CHIPS and Science Act for an expansion project that will create 180 permanent jobs. And across the street in Richland Township, a $900 million Corning venture that will produce over 1,100 new jobs is set to receive a sizeable federal tax break, although the amount hasn’t been finalized yet.
“It continues to show that Saginaw has a strong position from an economic development perspective. We have resources. We have a fantastic talent base,” said Saginaw County administrator Mary Catherine Hannah.
She welcomes the new investment and is optimistic it will create more growth in Saginaw County.
“There’s property tax revenue. These are properties that were not as valued as highly before the development came, and will get different evaluations with the new development. But really, I think it’s about the development that will happen around them, and because of them. Bringing new, and additional employees in, thinking about what we have to do to make sure that they have great housing, good schools, good services,” Hannah said.
For her part, Wenzel is glad the Great Lakes Bay Region is a place where more jobs are headed to.
“I would much rather be in a growth situation than responding to people who are being displaced because businesses aren’t expanding here,” she said.
A Corning spokesperson said in February that those new 1,100 jobs will have starting wages that are expected to exceed the median wage for the region. Employees will also receive a comprehensive benefits package.
The state has also invested in these projects.
In February, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) awarded $109 million for the Corning project.
On Monday, Oct. 22, the MEDC gave $40 million to assist with the HSC venture.
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