Holland-based Energetx to hire 140 workers in 2010

Holland - About 140 new workers will be employed by Energetx Composites by the end of 2010. The West Michigan company also plans to create 1,000 green jobs by 2016, part of the 80,000 environmentally-friendly jobs Michigan expects to add in coming years.

Launched the summer of 2008 by the Slikker family, Energetx Composites is an advanced fiberglass composites manufacturer. Additionally, the company will provide engineering, tooling, design, process development and assembly for wind turbine components.

"Energetx is a proud Michigan company with a solid foundation that instead of resting on its laurels, decided to build on its strengths and expand into clean-energy manufacturing," Gov. Jennifer Granholm said in a state news release. "Its effort takes us one step closer to our goal of making Michigan the center of the nation's new energy economy."

Currently employing 18 workers, Energetx is in the process of hiring five to 10 additional employees to engineer, design and set-up the company's new manufacturing operations. Engineering professionals in tooling, advance composite design, manufacturing, quality systems and sales engineering are being recruited, and according to the company's Web site, the ideal candidate would be a "creative, energetic problem solver" posessing an engineering degree and project management experience in today's emerging wind energy markets.

The company expects to employ 160 people by the end of 2010 and offers medical, prescription and dental benefits, as well as opportunites to participate in training programs, health and wellness courses and recreational sports leagues. Employees also receive 401 (K) plans and may qualify for tuition reimbursement.

For additional employment information and current openings, visit www.energetxcomposites.com/job_openings.html.

Tata Consultancy Services brings 1,250 jobs to Midland

Tata Consultancy Services, one of eight companies approved Tuesday for tax credits by the Economic Growth Authority, will create 1,250 new jobs in Midland.

The information technology services and consulting company plans to establish a Business Process Service Center, a $12.5 million investment, in Midland. Vision Mid Michigan reports this business center will provide core business services such as financial consulting, order processing, information technology and other services. The center is also applying for a property tax abatement from the city of Midland.

During its initial phase, the project is expected to create 500 jobs, and an additional 750 jobs are expected to be created in subsequent phases.

According to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), the increased economic activity created by this project will create 1,119 indirect jobs, for a total of 2,369 direct and indirect jobs created.

The state tax credit approved by the Michigan Economic Growth Authority is valued at $22.1 million over ten years, which officials hope will encourage the company headquartered in Mumbai, India, to expand operations in Mid-Michigan.

Tax credits bring 5,000 jobs to Michigan

More than 5,000 jobs are coming to Michigan, reported WXYZ after a series of companies took advantage of tax incentives.

Crain’s Detroit Business reports an estimated 1,100 jobs were created or retained by the six Southeast Michigan projects, and eight statewide projects represent more than $76.8 million in investments and created 2,581 jobs. Incentives for the eight projects were granted Tuesday by the Michigan Economic Growth Authority.

Companies taking part in the initiative include:

• Axel Tech LLC, which received approval for a $5.4 million project to consolidate four Michigan and Illinois operations into a new Troy location. The $1 million tax credit will retain an estimated 107 jobs.
• BioDri, an alternative energy products manufacturer, which is planning a facility in Blissfield.
• Colwell & Salmon Communications, a provider of inbound and outbound teleservices, which plans to expand its Livonia call center. The company received a $1.3 million tax credit, plans to create 502 jobs and is also considering a property tax abatement for expansion.
• ilumisys Inc., a spin-off of Altair Engineering, which received a $4 million tax credit to expand research and development of LED (light emitting diode) technology and create 213 jobs, as reported by the Oakland Press. The company also plans to move into a new Troy location, which will become its research and manufacturing center.
• Magneti Marelli Holding USA, a Fiat Holdings subsidiary, which plans to consolidate four Oakland County operations into one expanded Auburn Hills facility. The $4.5 million investment project was granted a $4 million tax credit and will create 200 jobs.
• Oak Wyandotte LLC, which proposed a project to demolish an abandoned facility and construct a new commercial building for retail and restaurant usage. The $1 million redevelopment project received a $118,750 tax credit and will create up to 15 jobs.
• Quality Metalcraft Inc., which was approved for a $1.7 million project in Livonia to design and manufacture aerodynamic fairings for tractor-trailer systems. It was granted $455,648 in tax credits and expects to add 64 jobs.
• Tata Consultancy Services

Gov. Jennifer Granholm stated Tuesday, “The scope of these projects demonstrate that Michigan has exactly what companies are looking for as they choose where to locate and grow their business — an aggressive economic growth strategy, a competitive business climate, innovative economic development tools and an outstanding workforce. If companies are looking to invest and create jobs, we want them to know that Michigan is a great state to do business.”

Michigan receives nearly $6 million for green jobs

Lansing — Michigan was awarded a $5,819,999 federal grant to train 1,000 Michigan residents and place them in green jobs announced Gov. Jennifer Granholm earlier this week.

“This investment will train a thousand Michigan workers for green, in-demand jobs in our state,” Granholm stated in a press release. “These workers will be involved in the fields of advanced battery production, solar energy and energy-efficient building construction.”

This State Energy Sector Partnership Training grant will provide resources to Granholm’s Green Jobs Initiative as well as funding three regional project teams in the following areas:

1. Advanced Energy Storage: A $1.36 billion U.S. Department of Energy grant will be used to create an Advanced Battery Skills Alliance in Southeast Michigan. The alliance will provide undergraduate and graduate-level training and work placement assistance in the advanced energy storage field. Possible occupations include engineers, assemblers, technologists and technicians.

2. Solar Energy: A solar project team in Southeast Michigan and another team in Mid-Michigan will assist in training chemical process technicians, solar engineering technicians and installers.

3. Energy Efficient Construction: A Flint-area energy efficient construction team will train workers for Green Construction and Sustainable Construction certificates, an Associates degree and/or trade apprenticeship opportunities.

“Michigan has been at the forefront nationally in the effort to promote a new clean energy economy and programs leading to good jobs,” stated Stanley Pruss, director of the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth, in a state press release.

“This award will connect Michigan workers to jobs and career pathways in targeted industries, helping to simultaneously advance the State's integrated energy, workforce and economic development vision and supporting programs,” Pruss said.

Green careers span a range of professions and industries, including the automotive industry, agriculture, building and construction, natural resource conservation, energy production and research and design industries.

To apply for green job training, Michigan’s No Worker Left Behind program recommends visiting your local Michigan Works! Agency.

Southwest Michigan ambulance service merger to create jobs

Kalamazoo — A merger between Pride Care Ambulance and Coloma EMS (CEMS Medical Transport) may create new jobs, reports the South Bend Tribune.

The new Kalamazoo-based company—Pride Care—will become the largest ambulance provider in southwest Michigan and will serve Van Buren, Barry and Kalamazoo counties.

Brian Balow, Pride Care chairman and chief executive, told the South Bend Tribune there will not be changes at the top management and supervisory levels.

However, he did say the company plans to hire additional emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics.

Plans for the two companies to merge were finalized Jan. 15, after an 18-month exploratory phase.

Read the full story, here: http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20100123/News01/1230374/1130