Delivering talent and value is a winning combination for the state.
When Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced two key corporate investment projects in March of 2025, it signaled to the world that Michigan is firing on all cylinders when it comes to business attraction, retention, and expansion.
OVD Insurance announced it was acquiring a Grand Rapids building and creating 131 new jobs, while TYC Americas announced it would establish a new facility and create 109 new jobs in Wixom.
In each case, the deal exemplifies the Team Michigan strategic approach. Through effective collaboration, communication, and coordination, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) works with its local and regional partners to streamline the entire site selection and business investment process for investors, making it as efficient and seamless as possible.
As a result, Michigan is attracting $31 million in new investment and landing 240 new jobs. “Both of these companies are betting on Michigan and doubling down on our state because of our strong network of talent and quality of life,” says Gov. Whitmer. “Together, let’s keep growing our professional services industry and competing against other states and nations to bring advanced manufacturing home.”
The OVD
Photo courtesy of The Right Place
Michelle Grinnell, chief communications and attraction officer for the MEDC, says the Team Michigan approach is actually a philosophy. “We want to make sure that when companies are looking at Michigan, it is as easy as possible for them,” she says. “A lot of these site selection projects are complex. There are a lot of permitting and workforce questions. Companies should not have to figure out who is the right person to talk to at the state. We sort all of that out for them. We work very collaboratively by providing a concierge service for companies. That way, when they receive an answer, they know that it is a comprehensive response from the State of Michigan.”
“Our rankings are a good indicator to show that we are on track and that we are aligned with the needs of the business community. We are making decisions that are positively moving the needle to put Michigan on the short list. We are absolutely a state that all executives should be thinking about.”
— Michelle Grinnell, chief communications and attraction officer, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Garrett Anderson, marketing content strategist for the MEDC, says that the Team Michigan approach is driven from the top down. “The governor and lieutenant governor are the leaders of this effort,” he says. “They really set the tone. It goes from top to bottom throughout the state.”
Grinnell adds that “we also ensure that we work very closely with all of our regional partners.” In Grand Rapids, that means there is close coordination with The Right Place Inc., the economic development organization for greater Grand Rapids in Western Michigan. “We make sure there is alignment at all levels on these projects,” says Grinnell. “We also make sure that each project is the right fit for that community.”
The Strong Business Case for Michigan
Grinnell says this Team Michigan approach works because so many companies want to invest in the state. “When you consider the numerous factors that make Michigan such a strong state for investment, it is clear why we are moving up the rankings for overall economic development performance,” she notes.
An overall low cost of doing business, lower cost of living and housing, expedited permitting processes, and a well-established and well-connected supply chain for manufacturing all make Michigan one of the most competitive places in the nation for business.
With a 6% corporate income tax rate and a 4.25% flat personal income tax, Michigan investors know exactly what to expect when they enter the state. Taxes and other factors contribute to a cost of living that is 10% below the national average, making Michigan the fourth most affordable place to live in the country.
For businesses, these cost differentials are quantifiable. For example, living in Washington, D.C., is 42% more expensive than living in Detroit. Chicago costs 17.3% more. San Francisco is 62% higher. Brooklyn costs 53% more, and Seattle costs 39% more.
The MEDC and The Right Place Inc. assisted Buell Motorcycles in an $18.5 million corporate facility expansion in Cascade Charter Township in the Grand Rapids area of Western Michigan. The project was announced on May 20 and will create 162 new jobs in the community.
Photos courtesy of Buell and The Right Place
In fact, it is far cheaper to live in Michigan than in Illinois, South Carolina, New York, California, and the nation’s capital. But savings alone are not the main reason Michigan tops competing states in attracting jobs and industry. Talent is.
Photos courtesy of Buell and The Right Place
“We have a long history of innovation,” says Grinnell. “From the creation of the production line to the establishment of the Arsenal of Democracy, Michigan has positioned itself as the world leader in manufacturing. To achieve this, you need a talented, highly trained, and highly adaptable workforce. Companies know that when they choose to invest in Michigan, they gain access to a workforce that will get the job done efficiently and with incredible quality. We deliver the highest value due to the breadth and diversity of our manufacturing prowess. Whether it’s automotive production, life sciences, aerospace and defense, or other high-tech fields, Michigan is the undisputed leader in advanced manufacturing.”
Site Selection
recently named
Michigan the
#10 Best State
Business Climate
in the nation —
an improvement of
20 spots from just
three years ago.
Source: Site Selection Magazine
How the Corning Deal Got Done
One success story that perfectly illustrates these advantages is the Corning project. In 2024, Gov. Whitmer announced that Corning Inc. had chosen Michigan for a new manufacturing plant dedicated to producing U.S.-made solar components with support from the Michigan Strategic Fund. The company said it would invest $900 million in Saginaw County to create a facility that will employ 1,100 Michiganders.
Michigan is supporting the investment with a $68 million performance-based Critical Industries Program (CIP) grant, a 15-year state essential services assessment exemption valued at $12.3 million, and a $29 million Strategic Site Readiness Program (SSRP) grant to Thomas Township for public infrastructure, road improvements, and related expenses.
“We are grateful for the strong leadership, collaboration, and support from Gov. Whitmer, the Michigan Legislature, and the State of Michigan,” said Scott Forester, Corning division vice president and program executive for solar, at the time of the announcement. “These approved incentives helped confirm Michigan as the natural choice for this new endeavor. The planned facility will create thousands of local jobs and advance the goal of expanding access to U.S. renewable energy solutions.”
Grinnell says the Corning investment “builds on the ecosystem that we have been developing. It builds on the success of Hemlock Semiconductor in Saginaw County, which created the opportunity for Corning to invest in Michigan. It shows the arc of these projects and how we are working over a long period to establish a comprehensive semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem in the state. To accomplish that, we are adding resources to our toolbox and leveraging those resources to bring more production onshore to Michigan. In the case of Corning, this is a project we worked on for a considerable amount of time. We worked closely with our local partners to ensure alignment. This deal was the culmination of many moving parts. It all came together into an incredible project for Michigan.”
Because of success stories like Corning and many others, Michigan has been rapidly ascending the charts of top-performing states. For example, Site Selection Magazine recently named Michigan the No. 10 state for overall best business climate, up two spots from 2023 and 10 spots from 2022.
In 2024, Michigan moved up to No. 9 on CNBC’s ranking of Top States for Business, and Site Selection ranked Michigan No. 7 in its annual ranking of most competitive states in 2024. Meanwhile, Michigan also climbed to its highest ranking ever in the Area Development Magazine list of Top States for Doing Business, moving up three spots to No. 10 in 2024.
Anderson says site selectors are taking notice of the rapid improvement in Michigan’s business climate. “Just look at our rankings over the last few years,” he says. “We have a long-term plan. We are not rising and then dropping. Our climb is a constant progress forward. Because we align with our core industries, companies are noticing this and choosing to invest more capital and hire more workers in Michigan.”
Grinnell adds that “our rankings are a good indicator to show that we are on track and that we are aligned with the needs of the business community. We are making decisions that are positively moving the needle to put Michigan on the short list. All we have to do is close the deal. We are absolutely a state that all executives should be thinking about.”
