Whitmer, along with state leaders, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of ONE’s new global headquarters in Novi in October. | michiganbusiness.org
Whitmer, along with state leaders, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of ONE’s new global headquarters in Novi in October. | michiganbusiness.org
A Michigan-based energy storage company's new gigafactory in Wayne County is expected to spur the rehabilitation of Haggerty Road in Van Buren Township.
According to a news release from the state government, the move will ensure that goods from Our Next Energy’s (ONE) gigafactory can be reliably transported and is in line with the state’s backing for the growth of the company.
"ONE hopes to bring a transformative, clean manufacturing project with more than 2,000 new jobs to Van Buren Township, along with suppliers and visitors from around the world, but the success of this project hinges on safe and reliable access to and from Haggerty Road," said Dan Power, director of Planning and Economic Development for Van Buren Township, in the release.
"Creating a new primary access point at Haggerty Road will be vital for the site," he added. "The road's current condition threatens delays, disruption and uncertainty. The reconstruction and widening of Haggerty Road from Ecorse Road to Van Born Road is critical, both for ONE's successful launch and for the Haggerty Road corridor to continue to serve Van Buren Township and southeast Michigan as an economic growth engine in the future."
The development of the $1.6 billion gigafactory is expected to facilitate 2,112 new jobs.
"Investments in our roads and bridges help Michiganders go to work, drop their kids off at school and run errands safely," said Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. "Since I took office [and] through the end of this year, Michigan will have fixed 16,000 lane miles of road and 1,200 bridges, bolstering our economy and connecting our hardworking communities.
"We are investing in Michigan communities and making Michigan more competitive. I will work with anyone to advance our economic development and build a Michigan where everyone can envision a bright future for themselves," she added.
ONE needed a Wayne County project as an asset for potential economic development efforts.
"Wayne County is at the core of the country's automotive industry and the development of electric vehicles," said Wayne County Executive Warren Evans. "This extraordinary investment in the new battery plant demonstrates why we're the preferred location for companies who wish to drive the automotive supply chain into the future.
"We appreciate the support from Gov. Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Transportation in providing this grant to help us ensure the new plant will be ready in time for ONE to begin operation," he added.
Alerts Sign-up