Last week, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced three expansion projects that will help create 210 new jobs and result in more than $56 million in capital investment in Oakland, Eaton and Muskegon counties.
AJG Aerospace provides products for the space, defense and commercial airline industries and has announced plans to expand manufacturing capabilities and move the company’s headquarters in Independence, Michigan, in Oakland County. Midwest Press and Automation is expanding in Delta Township in Eaton County to meet growing customer demand. Finally, Forming Technologies, a Muskegon-based thermoformed products manufacturer, is expanding to accommodate new business.
AJG Aerospace is a state-of-the-art aerospace startup producing aerospace invar bond tools, aluminum vacuum fixtures, carbon fiber bond tools, carbon fiber flight parts, aluminum flight parts and carbon fiber structural parts.
AJG plans to lease and renovate a 120,000-square-foot facility in Independence. The new plant will function as a manufacturing facility and its corporate headquarters.
The investment in the facility is expected to result in capital investment of at least $33 million and create 125 new jobs with the support of the Michigan Strategic Fund through a $1,000,000 Michigan Business Development Program (MBDP) performance-based grant. Two-thirds of the newly created jobs will start above the regional median wage of $23.73 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $20 per hour plus benefits with training in key elements of the business and the intention of being promoted to a higher wage level over the course of 12 to 24 months. Average wages are expected to be $34.25.
Midwest Press and Automation services the metal forming industry, including machine repair, electrical diagnosis and repair, mechanical engineering and welding. The company is integral to the supply chain of many second-tier OEMs, including companies in the defense, healthcare, motor laminations, agriculture, building fasteners and food and beverage services industries.
The company is expanding its footprint in Delta Township to accommodate an additional 27,000 square feet of assembly and machining space to help with growing demand. The expansion is expected to generate a capital investment of approximately $4 million and create 15 new jobs with a starting wage of $32.00 per hour plus benefits. The project is supported by the Michigan Strategic Fund through a $202,500 MBDP performance-based grant, paired with support from Delta Township through an anticipated approval of a real property tax abatement with a State Education Tax abatement from the MEDC.
The state-approved funds will help offset the cost of expanding the company’s existing facility and expand production and its workforce, giving it greater capacity to remain a competitive firm in the industry.
Forming Technologies, a Muskegon-based heavy gauge thermoformed products manufacturer has experienced a significant increase in business over the last several years. As a result, the company is building a new $18.76 million structure in Muskegon’s Port City Industrial Park. The new facility will also serve as the company’s corporate headquarters.
The Michigan Strategic Fund is supporting Forming Technologies with a $500,0000 MBDP performance-based grant. The project will create 70 new jobs and help retain 91 jobs.
Of the 70 new jobs, 24 have starting wages between $25 and $42 per hour plus benefits. The remaining jobs have starting wages between $18 and $21 per hour plus benefits.
The company was founded in 2004 in Muskegon with the mission of becoming a leader in heavy gauge thermoformed products. Forming Technologies and AMD Plastics, an unrelated Ohio-based thermoforming manufacturer, were purchased by North Carolina-based Duramax Holdings LLC DBA Otto Environmental Systems (OTTO) in 2022.