Michigan economic development board approves $250 million for Genesee site
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A Michigan economic development board Tuesday approved hundreds of millions of dollars in public funding to prepare a massive site for advanced manufacturing near Flint. It marks the biggest state grant to prepare a large industrial site approved by the board since the launch of Michigan site readiness program a few years ago.
The Michigan Strategic Fund Board unanimously approved a $250 million strategic site readiness grant for the Flint and Genesee Group Foundation, a local economic development corporation that sought the money to acquire land and develop infrastructure at the "Advanced Manufacturing District of Genesee County" in Mundy Township.
It's the state's last large available site of more than 1,000 acres, according to a memo from the state's economic development agency Tuesday. There exist few of these so-called megasites in the country, the agency wrote.
"As Michigan continues to compete for transformational projects in critical industries supported by federal industrial policy ... strengthening our inventory of available greenfield sites, of all sizes, remains paramount," the memo states. The economic development agency didn't identify a specific industry or company considering the site, but indicated some "prospects" have their eyes on it. Possible projects could include sites for electric vehicle, battery, semiconductor, clean energy or defense production.
Following the Michigan Strategic Fund's approval of public funds to subsidize development of the site, lawmakers serving on legislative appropriations committees will consider the funding request. The board previously approved a $9.25 million site readiness grant in April for the Mundy Township site.
The $250 million grant would come on top of those previously approved funds and marks the largest site readiness grant approved by the Michigan Strategic Fund Board since the launch of the state's Strategic Site Readiness Program, according to projects listed by the Michigan Economic Development Corp.
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After Ford passed over Michigan for electric vehicle-related facilities in 2021, a bipartisan group of lawmakers came together to create the site readiness program championed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to use corporate subsidies to lure business and jobs to Michigan. But GOP lawmakers' support for the site readiness program along with another fund that provides direct cash grants to company has largely eroded. Meanwhile some Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns with the spending.
Michigan senators recently passed legislation to overhaul both corporate subsidy programs. The legislation would divert hundreds of millions of funds from the programs to another development fund for public transportation, child care and other community investments. Whitmer opposes the Senate legislation, which would still need to pass the state House before landing on the governor's desk.
Staff writer JC Reindl contributed to this report.
Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on X, previously called Twitter, @clarajanehen.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Genesee County megasite slated to receive $250M grant
