Joseph Szczesny| The Oakland Press
The Michigan Economic Development Corp. has approved incentives for two Oakland County companies planning to create new jobs.
The MEDC-approved incentives of $235,730 are for Novi-based Cooper-Standard Automotive, which manufactures fluid handling, body sealing and anti-vibration systems for the automotive industry.
Cooper proposes investing up to $3.5 million to expand its existing Michigan operations by establishing a new facility in the Village of Leonard, creating up to 55 new jobs. Michigan was chosen over a competing site in Mexico. The Village of Leonard has offered support to the project in the form of a tax abatement, according to the MEDC.
The MEDC also approved $1.5 million for Southfield-based Janesville Acoustics, one of the world’s largest producers of acoustical and thermal fiber insulation and a leading producer of fiber products. Janesville Acoustics proposes to invest up to $10 million to open a new 250,000 square-foot plant in the City of Battle Creek for the manufacture of felt parts for cars and trucks.
Janesville expects the project will create approximately 225 new jobs. Michigan was chosen over competing sites in Indiana and Ohio. The City of Battle Creek also plans to approve tax abatements for the Janesville project.
“In the last 20 months we have greatly improved Michigan’s business climate and infrastructure, making it easier for our businesses to find new paths to prosperity, and the changes are paying off,” said MEDC president and chief executive officer Michael A. Finney.
In addition, the MEDC is offering $300,000 in incentives to Sleuth Systems, which is currently located in New Mexico and which provides public safety software, including record management, computer-aided dispatch and mobile field data reporting. The company plans to consolidate its operations to the City of Harper Woods. Sleuth Systems plans to invest up to $25,000 and create 57 new jobs.
The MEDC also approved $300,000 worth of incentives for Ogihara America Corp., a subsidiary of Bangkok-based Ogihara Corp., is a supplier of sheet metal stamping and assembly products. Ogihara plans to expand its operations in the City of Howell to add new equipment and shipping docks. The company will invest up to $34.9 million and create 78 new jobs.
