Collaboration and a growing selection of shovel-ready certified industrial sites grow together in the Great Lakes State.
One of the first questions a company asks when choosing a site is how ready it is for development. The State of Michigan answered this call with the MI Sites Program, launched by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) in 2024.
The certification program gives structured evaluations of industrial sites and community guidance on how to strengthen the competitiveness of these properties, defining their level of readiness by bronze, silver and gold designations.
A welcome partner to this initiative is electric and natural gas utility Consumers Energy, which serves over 350,000 commercial and industrial customers in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Fully 74% of sites in the MI Sites program are served by Consumers Energy, underscoring the utility’s geographic footprint and strong position to support growth across Michigan.
“We recognize that energy is a critical factor in the site selection process,” says Lisa Pung, site readiness program manager at Consumers Energy. “It really has become a top factor if not the factor.”
Consumers Energy staff conducts in-depth energy studies in support of the MI Sites credentialing program. “Beyond demonstrating service capability, we provide large-load customers a clear path to power with defined scope, timelines, and costs, helping to de-risk projects and increase site competitiveness,” says Pung. “We also work closely with both the state of Michigan and our local economic development organizations to make sure we’re a thought partner in the advancement and momentum for each of those sites.”
Exemplifying Excellence
The MI Sites Program supports Michigan communities with industrial property they want occupied and developed. One location illustrating this is Jackson Technology Park North, located in the city of Jackson, about 40 minutes south of Lansing. The 145-acre site is zoned heavy industrial and offers 110 acres of buildable property with wastewater infrastructure to meet capacity and energy needs for new tenants. Its tenant anchor, Midbrook Manufacturing & Fabrication, broke ground on a 54,000-sq.-ft. facility in late 2024.
Michigan and Jackson County both have a manufacturing legacy, particularly in automotive and advanced mobility. Precision machining, medical devices and defense manufacturing also make up that industry base, with undertakings in the secondary metals and plastics and industrial supplier sectors as well.
“We know how to make things, and we know how to make them better than anybody else does,” says Keith Gillenwater, CEO and president of Accelerate Jackson County, a public-private partnership promoting economic development in Jackson County.
Jackson Technology Park North is on target to soon meet gold status under the MI Sites program, having done the homework to derisk the site, make it as shovel-ready as possible for an end-user and remove any potential impediments. Another asset at Jackson Technology Park North is an Alro Steel-backed spec building to be located on Ayrshire Lane.
Another benefit for potential tenants in Jackson Technology Park North and other sites fed by Consumers Energy is access to a utility partner that prioritizes growth and offers tailored energy solutions designed to support long-term success.
“We are blessed to have Consumers Energy here,” says Gillenwater. “I have worked with a lot of electric providers in my 21 years and counting in economic development and Consumers Energy is by far the best natural gas and electricity provider to work with.”
The economic development strategy of Jackson and Michigan communities like it is forward-looking and focused on growth, with eyes on luring and keeping more technology-focused projects and business. Site hunters in corporate real estate looking for workers to support their enterprise would be wise to consider the Jackson area with its available workforce of just under 1 million.
Jackson Technology Park North has over 100 acres available for future heavy industrial tenants.
Photo courtesy of Accelerate Jackson County
Jackson is also the hometown and corporate headquarters of Consumers Energy, which has had a local presence for over a century.
The workforce landscape in Michigan is characterized by highly skilled human capital, particularly in engineering. In summer 2025, Jackson College announced it would open a 15,000-sq.-ft. Applied Technologies Center to train professions across the utilities, energy, Industry 4.0 and sustainable technology sectors. An Empower Lineworker Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate for apprentice line workers is also currently offered by the college, developed in partnership with Consumers Energy.
Ready to Partner
In Michigan, people in business together understand the value of strong partnerships across Michigan that transform communities. The Jackson Tech Park site is a powerful example of the good that comes from powerful partnerships between the state of Michigan, Accelerate Jackson County, surrounding businesses and Consumers Energy.
“We have a nice geographical portfolio of sites throughout our service territory in Michigan,” says Pung. “We place high value on the MI Sites Program for its emphasis on rigorous site evaluation and preparation. We partner alongside our communities and the state and the local economic development organizations to prepare those sites.”
Other MI Sites properties served by Consumers Energy include the Advanced Manufacturing District (AMD) of Genesee County, which has over 1,300 acres available for development in Mundy Township, southwest of Flint. AMD aims to collect tenants working in the advanced manufacturing and semiconductor industries. Albion East Industrial Park has over 300 acres available and is located along Interstate 94 about an hour’s drive from the AMD megasite in Genesee County.
“Each business has unique energy needs, and it’s our goal to provide innovative, timely energy solutions that exceed their expectations,” says Pung. “Partnering with MI Sites is easy, since all site factors are considered.”
This Investment Profile was prepared under the auspices of Consumers Energy. For more information, visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/growth.
