A new report from Business Facilities shows Michigan continues to lead the race for jobs and investment as the top state for automotive industry and electric vehicle investments, holding its number one spot from 2022.
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According to Business Facilities, Michigan also ranks as a top 10 state among key areas like foreign direct investment, customized workforce training, tech talent pipelines, and health care jobs.
This ranking follows multiple reports showing Michigan as a leader in business, clean energy and battery investments and a piece from Newsweek recognizing Michigan as a leading hub for high-tech mobility development.
“As the state that put the world on wheels, we’re proud to be recognized as an ongoing leader in the automotive industry and EV investment by Business Facilities,” said Governor Whitmer.
“We will continue to work together to attract additional projects, invest in Michiganders, and build on the momentum we’ve created over the past two years. This national recognition of our key industries and initiatives supports our commitment that anyone can make it in Michigan.”
Business Industries: Washington, Michigan, Massachusetts, California, Texas Are #1 In Key Industries.
In the Automotive industry, both traditional and the burgeoning electric vehicle space, the state of Michigan tops the list. This is a repeat performance from the state in this category with new investments bolstering its existing ecosystem.
As the industry as a whole undergoes its current transformation, the ones to watch include the other top ranked states — Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and Kentucky, respectively. Also included in this ranking: Alabama, California, South Carolina, Missouri, and Georgia.
Rounding out the Life Sciences ranking are Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Texas, Florida, and Michigan. And, rounding out the top 5 for MedTech/Medical Devices: Minnesota, Massachusetts, Indiana, Connecticut, respectively, and followed by Ohio, Indiana, Florida, and Wisconsin.
In December 2021, Governor Whitmer brought Republicans, Democrats, and public and private sector leaders together to establish powerful new economic development tools that would help Michigan compete for transformational projects.
Since then, the state has won $16 billion of projects and more than 16,000 good-paying jobs building electric vehicles, batteries, semiconductor chips, and clean energy—all industries of the future.
To keep this momentum going, the state must continue its successful economic development strategy and expand the toolkit. The governor proposed the Make it in Michigan plan, a comprehensive strategy to build on the work we are doing and help more families and businesses make it in Michigan.
The plan has three pillars: competing for and winning projects to bring manufacturing and supply chains home, investing in people so they can pursue their potential from Pre-K through postsecondary and have their freedoms protected, and revitalizing places to make them more attractive places to live, work, and invest.
The Make it in Michigan plan proposes spurring more cutting-edge research and development in Michigan, lowering costs for businesses so they can hire more Michiganders, and working to land more transformational projects in Michigan while making parallel investments in local child care, housing, infrastructure, and workforce programs.
Over the last 18 months, the state’s powerful bipartisan economic development tools have helped bring home over $16 billion of projects and secure 16,000 jobs building electric vehicles, batteries, semiconductors, and clean energy.
• In January 2022, General Motors announced a historic investment of $7 billion, creating 4,000 and retaining 1,000 jobs, to convert Orion Township assembly plant to build full-size electric vehicle pickups and build Ultium’s third U.S. battery cell plant in Lansing.
• In March 2022, LG Energy Solution announced a $1.7 billion expansion creating 1,200 jobs in Holland manufacturing batteries.
• In June 2022, Ford Motor Company announced an investment of $2 billion, creating more than 3,200 jobs in plants across Michigan to support electric vehicle manufacturing growth and secure internal combustion engine portfolio in the state.
• In June 2022, Canadian electric vehicle charging network operator FLO announced an investment of $3 million for the company’s first-ever U.S. manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills.
• In October 2022, Michigan-based Our Next Energy announced a $1.6 billion investment to establish its first cell and electric vehicle battery pack gigafactory in Van Buren Township, creating up to 2,112 jobs.
• In October 2022, Gotion announced a $2.36 billion investment for a new manufacturing facility in Big Rapids, creating up to 2,350 jobs.
In January 2023: Ford announced a $3.5 billion investment, creating 2,500 good-paying jobs, in a new EV battery manufacturing facility in Marshall. ■
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