Michigan captured eight of the top 10 spots on Business Facilities’ 16th annual Rankings Report for 2020, including once again taking the No. 1 ranking for in the Automotive Manufacturing Strength category.
The other top 10s include: Manufacturing Employment (No. 4), FDI-Investments (No. 5), Manufacturing Output percentage of GNP (No. 3), Gross Domestic Product (No. 10), Cybersecurity (No. 9), Opportunity Zones (No. 8) and Tech Jobs (No. 9).
The report was published online July 29 and appears in the magazine’s July/August issue.
“In spite of the unprecedented challenges of the past few months, Michigan continues to focus on building an economy driven by technology, innovation and our manufacturing heritage,” said Mark Burton, CEO of Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). “These rankings demonstrate Michigan’s growing reputation nationally for economic resiliency and as a top state to grow and do business.”
In a reinforcement of the state’s manufacturing expertise, Michigan maintained its 2019 positions in automotive manufacturing strength, top manufacturing states/percent of workforce and top manufacturing states/employment. Michigan also added to its top 10 rankings this year in manufacturing output. The state maintained its strength in tech jobs and cybersecurity while adding new honors in Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The strength of Michigan’s economic climate extended into regional areas of the state as well, with several Michigan metropolitan areas taking Top 10 honors, including Grand Rapids (Best Business Climate, No. 2), Kalamazoo (Lowest Cost of Living, No. 3) and Genesee County (Wage Growth Leaders, No. 10).
Business Facilities is a national publication that has been the leading location source for corporate site selectors and economic development professionals for more than 50 years.
Last month’s announcement from Business Facilities builds on additional recognition for Michigan’s business climate in recent months, including:
The full 2020 commercial services rating can be obtained at bit.ly/biza amenitiesreport.
Hard to sell
Muskegon-based Hardware Distributors Inc. is a third-generation family business circle operated through Dan Workman and its 3 cousins. Although it is still a family circle property, one of the state’s largest hardware wholesalers will no longer be under the direction of Workman and his team.
Eric Seifert of Left Coast Capital controlled the sale of device suppliers to Greg and Jill Lamphere. He is a sales professional and has worked in the paper and packaging industry. He runs a circle of family businesses.
Seifert said he is pleased that the company owns a family property circle, and filed a Grand Rapids-based Family Business Alliance report indicating that most of the U.S. wealth. He’s living in the family business circle.
“There is a special relationship between the businesses of the family circle and business in operation. This business circle of relatives offers a humanistic and supportive environment, as it is managed through other people who live and paint in the local community. By linking local opportunities, most of the company’s wealth remains in the local economy”.
Puzzle piece
The city of Grand Rapids has hired Bergmann, a national architecture, engineering and planning firm with offices in Grand Rapids, to conduct a feasibility study and provide design concepts for the possible relocation of city operations from 201 Market Ave. SW to the Kent County Road Commission property at 1500 Scribner Ave. NW. This is the next step in the city’s due diligence process following Grand Rapids City Commission approval in February of an option agreement for the potential purchase of the Scribner Avenue property.
According to city officials, the transfer of operations to 201 Market Ave. SW may be approaching its redevelopment targets of the site and the surrounding coastal area.
“We look forward to partnering with Bergmann on this vital project,” said Tim Burkman, a city engineer. “The Bergmann team is well placed to help us in how these assets can meet our existing and long-term needs.”
Through its collaborative design process, Bergmann, in partnership with Granger Construction and WGI Parking Solutions, will hold in-depth stakeholder conversations, inspect existing site and building conditions, perform land-use and zoning analyses and conduct similar research. The results will be used to create a feasibility report and develop creative design solutions for accommodating the people and services that would be relocated from 201 Market to the Scribner property.
“Thanks to our experience in designing and creating built-in plans, we know that moving and renewing services of this length and scope is like solving a complex puzzle, a puzzle that our team is passionate about solving,” said Buddy Huyler, Bergmann’s senior assignment manager. “In addition to addressing the relocation and design features of both sites, our purpose is to show the complete perspective of assets and their environment.”
Bergmann will provide the feasibility report and design concepts to the city this fall, he said.
The Bergmann team will consist of experts in water resources, mixed-use projects, municipal utility design, etc.