WEBVTT
X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:0
00:00.159 –> 00:03.359
Green Charter Township has been locked in a
legal battle with Goshen,
00:03.559 –> 00:06.949
a Chinese battery manufacturer, for more than a
year now.
00:07.159 –> 00:13.109
At one time, Goshen was set to build a $2.6
billion electric vehicle battery factory near
00:13.109 –> 00:14.750
the central Michigan town.
00:14.960 –> 00:19.750
But last year, after new leadership in Green
Township changed its mind about the project,
00:20.000 –> 00:25.159
Goshen filed suit alleging it stands to lose
millions if the deal does not go through as
00:25.159 –> 00:26.450
originally agreed upon.
00:26.760 –> 00:28.309
Green leaders have countered with.
00:28.680 –> 00:34.029
that the township’s previous leaders were never
authorized to execute a development deal with
00:34.029 –> 00:36.930
Goshen.
Now Green is digging in for its standoff in
00:36.930 –> 00:41.880
court with Goshen and seeking funds from a
somewhat unlikely source to help pay for the
00:41.880 –> 00:45.560
challenge to a judge’s decision in favor of the
battery maker.
00:45.759 –> 00:52.069
According to the Detroit News, the township has
submitted a request for $200,000 of McCosta
00:52.069 –> 00:56.279
County’s cannabis excise tax revenue to help
cover legal bills.
00:56.319 –> 00:59.349
It’s equal.
To about 30% of the cannabis tax funding
00:59.349 –> 01:04.040
awarded to the county by the state.
The problem is that Green Township doesn’t
01:04.040 –> 01:07.839
allow cannabis retailers to set up shop within
its confines.
01:08.000 –> 01:13.000
As the report points out, most of the
dispensaries in Macosta County are in nearby
01:13.000 –> 01:16.680
big rapids.
It’s caused some controversy over Green wanting
01:16.680 –> 01:19.750
a piece of the revenue from an industry it
banned.
01:19.919 –> 01:24.599
Green Township’s issues with Goshen not only
stem from the deal forged with its former
01:24.599 –> 01:27.830
leadership.
There are also concerns regarding the
01:27.830 –> 01:31.779
environmental impact of the factory and
Goshen’s ties to China.
01:32.029 –> 01:35.110
But if the plant is eventually built as
originally planned,
01:35.349 –> 01:41.879
it could create as many as 2350 jobs while
gobbling up $175 million
01:42.069 –> 01:43.580
in state incentives.
01:43.870 –> 01:45.949
I’m Ben Munson, and this is manufacturing now.