MEDC - Michigan Economic Development Corporation

01/16/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/16/2025 13:12

Four Economic Development Projects bring 167 New Jobs, Nearly $55 Million in Capital Investment to Wayne, Oakland Counties

  • 3X Nano dba NxLite, establishing U.S. headquarters, investing $5 million and creating 36 new jobs

  • Robert Bosch, LLC announces Regional Hydrogen Research and Development Hub investing $13.8 million, creating 28 new jobs

  • Envergia Incorporated announces EV battery recycling facility, investing $32.7 million and creating 52 new jobs

  • dSpace Incorporated expands headquarters, investing $3.1 million and creating 51 new jobs

LANSING, Mich. - Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced four economic development projects in Southeast Michigan. In total, the announcements represent nearly $55 million in capital investment and 167 new good-paying jobs in Wayne and Oakland counties.

"Today, we are investing in advanced manufacturing companies across Southeast Michigan to create 167 good-paying jobs and build on our work to grow Michigan's economy," said Governor Whitmer. "From battery recycling to software testing to research and development, we are bringing good-paying, high-tech jobs home to Michigan, creating opportunities for our workers and securing the automotive supply chain. As I said in my 'Road Ahead Address' earlier this week, we will work together to make sure Team Michigan wins. Let's keep growing our economy by creating good jobs for Michiganders."

"Today's announcements represent the state's commitment to helping grow Michigan-based businesses, attract new businesses, and create jobs for Michiganders. Team Michigan continues to focus our efforts on attracting people, uplifting and revitalizing places and supporting projects that expand prosperity to the state," said Quentin L. Messer Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. "The MEDC is proud to support risk-taking small- to medium-sized businesses in their journey towards growth and expansion."

3E Nano Inc, dba NxLite is a leading clean-tech company providing nano-thin energy and solar control coatings for the polymer, glass, and window industries. The company's products use earth-abundant materials, are air-stable, and can be applied to light-weight polymers as well as glass, providing optimal control of thermal energy flow in and out of a building, while improving optical performance.

The company is establishing its U.S. headquarters and manufacturing facility in Canton Township, Wayne County. This advanced innovation and manufacturing facility, called NxLite's AIM Center, is driven by recent new contracts with some of the world's largest companies for their energy efficient product portfolio including nano-thin energy and solar control coatings for the polymer, glass, and window industries.

"This manufacturing facility allows us to apply our advanced energy coatings to both glass and polymeric substrates using the latest nano technology," said David Mather, CEO of NxLite. "The opening of the AIM center couldn't have come at a better time given the increased demand for our solutions."

The company is expecting to create 39 new jobs with a capital investment of $8,858,746 for the project thanks to the support of the Michigan Strategic Fund through a $1,000,000 Michigan Business Development Program (MBDP) performance-based grant. Newly created jobs will have starting wages at or above $24 per hour, all of which will be above the regional median wage.

The company's current alternative is to build a manufacturing facility in Canada, and not open a U.S. headquarters. Remaining in Canada offers significant cost advantages in the form of an R&D tax credit, lower wages, and lower healthcare costs. However, the company decided as part of their Global Strategy to expand into the U.S. and chose to locate this facility in Michigan as the state has the skilled talent pool and business support resources needed to grow. This investment will continue to stimulate the local region with immediate job growth and additional long-term growth potential as the company continues to expand.

Today's announcement from NxLite further demonstrates Michigan's world-class talent pool, global infrastructure system, and business-friendly tax structure as key variables in choosing Team Michigan as companies look to grow.

Robert Bosch LLC., a part of the Bosch Group, has a proven track record of bringing highly complex and technically innovative products to customers in the business sectors of Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology.

The company intends to create a Regional Hydrogen Research and Development Hub at the company's Farmington Hills headquarter facility. The addition of this hydrogen research and development space will help empower innovative developments throughout the hydrogen lifecycle, allowing for improved integration. This project will require extensive upgrades and restructuring of 2,200 square feet of existing space to support further development of the fuel cell power module.

"Hydrogen will play a role in a diversified mix of powertrain options in the future," said Peter Tadros, regional president of Power Solutions for Bosch in North America. "Our work at the Farmington Hills location underscores our commitment to advancing hydrogen technology, enabling us to deliver innovative solutions that support our customers' needs and drive progress toward the hydrogen economy."

Today's announcement is anticipated to generate capital investment of $13,768,412 in the city of Farmington Hills, Oakland County with the creation of 28 new jobs. Jobs will be in the mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering fields with an average wage of $48.84 per hour plus benefits, more than double the regional media wage of $23.26 per hour. The investment comes with the support of the MBDP performance-based grant in the amount of $500,000 through the Michigan Strategic Fund.

Michigan continues to lead the way in the clean energy sector, including smart mobility, hydrogen fuel cells, battery and energy storage solutions, and clean energy generation technologies. Partnering with companies like Robert Bosch, LLC will solidify Michigan's leadership position and continue to build on clean hydrogen development technologies. Guided by the Governor's MI Healthy Climate Plan, Team Michigan continues to invest in the development of a robust clean hydrogen market, supply chain, and workforce giving us the opportunity to create good-paying jobs, expand economic opportunities, promote energy independence, and improve public health outcomes in the Great Lakes state.

Learn more about careers with Bosch.

Envergia Incorporated, an industry leader in lithium-ion and electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling, is announcing plans to build out a 115,560-sq.-ft. facility in Detroit to house and operate the machinery and equipment required to recycle batteries into black mass materials. This investment will contribute to lowering the carbon footprint of the battery supply chain and the demand for new raw materials.

Envergia has an extensive history in Europe, particularly within the United Kingdom, where it has demonstrated industry-leading standards and key performance indicators in the critical mineral and metals recovery from recycling industrial lithium-ion and EV batteries. This investment is anticipated to result in $32,667,000 in capital investment and create 52 new jobs with the support of a MBDP performance-based grant in the amount of $750,000. The jobs being created average $37.68 per hour plus benefits throughout the ramp up period of five years which represents nearly $14 per hour above the regional media wage of $23.73.

"Detroit is the perfect home for Envergia's expansion into North America. This was abundantly evident from our first visit to the city. This city embodies resilience, innovation, and opportunity," said MJ Chandilya, Envergia Founder & CEO. "By partnering with the City of Detroit and MEDC, Envergia is not just scaling our vision for clean energy-we are investing in Michigan's future, creating jobs, and ensuring that Detroit continues to lead in building a sustainable economy."

Envergia has developed proprietary technology for this process that increases capacity and has less intense capital expenditure per processing plant than competitors. The company has been engaged with the City of Detroit as well as the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to identify, apply for, and obtain the appropriate permitting for the project to ensure a seamless and successful launch.

Michigan competed with South Carolina for the investment, which remains a viable option due to its cheaper cost of labor, making this incentive necessary to ensure the project moves forward in Michigan. State support will help offset the cost of renovating the project site, allowing the company to establish its lithium-ion battery recycling facility and become a strong employer in the region.

In addition to MSF support, the City of Detroit has assisted in the form of expediting the permitting process for the project at the project site.

Explore careers with Envergia here.

dSPACE Incorporated was founded in Germany in 1988 and established its North American headquarters in the city of Novi in 1991 and then moved to Wixom in 2007. dSPACE Inc. quickly grew and in 2018, dSPACE added a production, testing, and shipping facility in New Hudson to better position itself to meet customer demand. The company has 2,800 employees globally, with 111 being Michigan residents.

dSPACE engineers and designs products that allow automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to use this technology in its development processes to test vehicle software before being installed in the vehicle. This technology identifies glitches prior to the installation which saves both time and manpower. With the rapidly growing demand for innovative software in electric, hybrid and internal combustion engines, autonomous driving and software-defined vehicles, the company is looking to expand its capacity in Wixom, Oakland County.

"We very much appreciate the great support we received from the State of Michigan and MEDC. Together with the City of Wixom and Oakland County, MEDC worked with us successfully, right from the beginning of our expansion project. The highly skilled talent in Michigan and the mid-west, the great infrastructure and the collaborative partnership with MEDC were the main reasons to increase our footprint here in South-East Michigan." says Dr. Peter Waeltermann, CEO of dSPACE Inc.

The project is anticipated to generate $3.1 million in capital investment and create 51 new jobs in the next 3 years, at an average wage of $49.82 per hour plus benefits, over $16 dollars above the regional media wage. The company chose Michigan over other competing sites due to the dedicated and skilled workforce available and the local partnerships it has fostered over the years. This investment comes with the support of a $408,000 MBDP performance-based grant.

The proposed project involves extensive renovations to maximize facility space and the addition of machinery and equipment to allow for additional production at its headquarters. This expansion aligns with the company's long-term strategy to provide innovative technology to the increasingly growing mobility industry.

The company partners with Oakland County Michigan Works! and Oakland Community College to attract, manage, and retain talent and offers on-the-job training.

Learn more about a career at dSPACE.

QUOTES

3E Nano, Inc., dba Nxlite

"Nxlite is an upstart international advanced manufacturer in the rapidly evolving clean tech industry. Their decision to locate their advanced innovation and manufacturing center in the Detroit region speaks volumes to our talent, R & D, and innovative business community," said Maureen Donohue Krauss, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Partnership. "We are uniquely positioned to lead in clean energy and that's why innovative companies like Nxlite keep investing here as they look to scale across North America."

"I am pleased to welcome NxLite, a Canada-based clean tech company providing nano-thin energy and solar control coatings, to Wayne County," said Warren Evans, Wayne County Executive. "My administration remains committed to increasing Wayne County's appeal as a business-friendly climate, and NxLite's decision to local in Canton exemplifies how far we have come in the past few years. We are rapidly rebuilding our community through economic development, including many opportunities in the clean energy sector."

Robert Bosch, LLC

"The expansion of the Bosch footprint in Farmington Hills is good news for Oakland County, Michigan and the highly skilled workers who will fill the jobs at the new Hydrogen Research and Development Hub," said Oakland County Executive David Coulter. "This innovative project into hydrogen technology will help bolster the region's reputation as a leader in advanced manufacturing and research."

"Bosch has demonstrated its expertise through innovative developments and enhanced exploration in hydrogen technology. The new Regional Hydrogen Research and Development Tech Hub at its Farmington Hills facility will allow Bosch to support breakthroughs in science and engineering that could have a global impact," said Cristia Brockway, Economic Development Director, City of Farmington Hills. "We are delighted Bosch has chosen to bring this cutting-edge project to Farmington Hills, providing continued investment and growth in the city while offering new, high-quality employment opportunities."

Envergia Incorporated

"EV battery technology is so complex, it is driving innovation throughout the automotive industry and supporting the supply chain while creating new opportunities in clean energy," said Maureen Donohue Krauss, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Partnership. "As a global leader in EV battery material recovery, Envergia is a great addition to our innovative mobility ecosystem. They join the vast network of companies and entrepreneurs that are in the Detroit region developing and delivering the latest mobility technologies and services."

"Envergia made a wonderful choice selecting the Gateway Industrial Center as their new home, and we are proud to have played a role in bringing their battery recycling operations to our city," said Kevin Johnson, President and CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. "This project brings quality jobs and industry-leading technology to Detroit while strengthening our growing EV ecosystem."

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state's marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan's economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.