Welcome to Great Lakes Growth Report, a newslettter brought to you by the Great Lakes Economic Development Council. Growth Report brings you economic development news, announcements and issues from across the Great Lakes region. We welcome your feedback and suggestions. Send story ideas, announcements or events to info@greatlakesedc.org

Michigan Projects Add 126 Jobs and $31.2 Million in Investment

Ricardo LLC will invest $24.1 million to expand manufacturing capacity in Wayne County, creating 114 jobs. LM Marine Services will invest another $7.15 million and add 12 jobs in Charlevoix County. Together, the two projects represent more than $31.2 million in capital investment.

Ricardo’s project supports Michigan’s automotive engineering and advanced-manufacturing base, while LM Marine Services will expand capacity serving the state’s maritime economy. The combination illustrates the range of industrial opportunities generated by Michigan’s mobility expertise and Great Lakes assets. More. 

Indiana Awards Arts and Culture Projects Expected to Leverage $369.6 Million

Indiana awarded READI 2.0 Arts & Culture grants to 49 projects across all 15 of the state’s economic-development regions. The projects are expected to generate $369.6 million in total investment supporting cultural facilities, public spaces, tourism assets and creative-economy initiatives.

The $65 million statewide initiative is part of Indiana’s broader Regional Acceleration and Development Initiative. State leaders are positioning arts, culture and quality-of-place investments as tools for attracting workers, retaining residents and strengthening regional business competitiveness. More.

Simard Suspensions Expands Quebec Manufacturing Capacity

Simard Suspensions is moving forward with a modernization and expansion 

project in Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec, with financial support from the Canadian and Quebec governments. The manufacturer produces specialized suspension and steering systems for heavy-duty vehicles.

The investment will help the Charlevoix-region company improve productivity, expand production capacity and strengthen its position in domestic and international markets. Government officials linked the project to manufacturing supply-chain resilience, regional job creation and the competitiveness of Quebec’s small and midsized manufacturers. More. 

New York Launches New Round of Life Sciences Talent Grants

Empire State Development opened Round 7 of the NYFIRST program, offering grants of up to $1 million to help New York medical schools recruit and retain translational researchers. The initiative is intended to turn scientific discoveries into new treatments, technologies and commercial ventures.

Since 2018, NYFIRST has awarded 13 grants, directly creating more than 200 jobs and attracting nearly $120 million in additional research funding after participating scientists arrived. The new round places greater emphasis on research with potential for patents, licensing and startup formation. More.

Western New York Projects Eligible for $60 Million Funding Pool

Businesses, municipalities and nonprofit organizations in Western New York have until July 31 to apply for up to $60 million in Regional Council Capital Funds. Additional support is available through more than 20 state programs using New York’s Consolidated Funding Application.

Eligible projects may include downtown revitalization, rural infrastructure, business expansion and workforce development. The Western New York Regional Economic Development Council will evaluate proposals based on their alignment with regional priorities covering Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara counties. More.

Minnesota Adds 13,200 Jobs as Manufacturing Employment Rises

Minnesota added 13,200 jobs in June, marking its third consecutive month of employment growth. Private-sector employers added 14,600 positions, while the state unemployment rate remained at 4.4 percent.

Manufacturing added 2,800 jobs during the month and 7,115 positions over the previous year. However, Minnesota’s labor-force participation rate declined for a seventh consecutive month, reinforcing concerns about the availability of workers needed to sustain business expansion and economic growth. More.

Pennsylvania Budget Expands Workforce and Economic-Growth Investments

Pennsylvania enacted a $50.85 billion budget that includes investments addressing education, workforce needs and economic competitiveness. The spending plan passed with bipartisan support and is projected to leave the Commonwealth with approximately $8 billion in reserves at the end of the fiscal year.

For economic developers, the budget’s workforce and business-growth provisions arrive as Pennsylvania works to accelerate permitting, prepare industrial sites and respond to employer demand for skilled labor. The package also maintains the state’s capacity to support future business-attraction and infrastructure initiatives. More

Ontario and Stratford Invest in Public Transit Infrastructure

The governments of Canada and Ontario and the City of Stratford announced public-transit infrastructure investments intended to improve mobility and support continued community growth. The projects will help modernize local transportation assets while generating manufacturing and construction activity.

Transit capacity is an increasingly important economic-development consideration because it connects workers to employers and supports higher-density commercial and residential development. For Stratford, the improvements complement regional efforts to remain competitive for manufacturing investment and workforce attraction. More.

Former New York Prison Property Transferred for Lumber Expansion

New York transferred the former 201-acre Butler Correctional Facility to the Wayne County Industrial Development Agency, which then conveyed the property to Westbury Lumber. The company plans to use much of the former state facility for expansion and storage.

Westbury Lumber expects the added capacity to support growth beyond its established northeastern markets and expand its international reach. The project returns a vacant public property to productive use while supporting wood-products manufacturing, local employment and long-term investment in Wayne County. More.

Illinois Expands Pipeline of Investment-Ready Industrial Sites

Illinois is continuing implementation of its expanded Regional Site Readiness Program, which doubled available funding from $30 million to $60 million. The program supports infrastructure construction, environmental work, planning and other improvements needed to prepare properties for business investment.

The initiative targets one of the most important factors in modern site selection: the ability to deliver properties with utilities, transportation access and reduced development risk. Illinois officials are using the program to strengthen the state’s pipeline of locations capable of accommodating advanced manufacturing and other large-scale projects. More.