New Business Expansion in Shiawassee County, Two Community Development Projects Bring Investment, Jobs to Michigan

August 1, 2019

Great Lakes Fusion is looking to expand its business and add new equipment at its existing footprint in Vernon Township to begin production of a new hard fusion-welded product. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $2.65 million and create 40 jobs, resulting in a $250,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant.

Great Lakes Fusion, LLC was founded in 1998 to serve the landfill market through the fusion welding of high-density polyethylene pipe and its installation. The company now excavates and builds new cells at landfills, drills collection wells for the collection of landfill gas, and installs the pipe systems for collection. The company has also developed proprietary products for the landfill market.

“We’re pleased to support these business expansion projects in Shiawassee County. Transforming underutilized property for future business growth and assisting the expansion of an established company in Vernon Township demonstrate the work we’re doing to bring good jobs to area residents and new economic activity to communities,” said Jeff Mason, CEO of Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

“Our family of companies has called Shiawassee County home since its inception,” said Great Lakes Family of Companies Business Development Manager Joe Libby. “We are thrilled to provide high-quality jobs to our team and through the assistance of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership we will continue our growth through innovation and hard work.”

The Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership offered to assist the company with finding candidates for the new jobs. For information on careers with Great Lakes Fusion, visit greatlakesfusion.com.

 “The Great Lakes team is making a major investment in their business and property in Vernon Township, and we are grateful for their commitment to our community. We are also very thankful for the support received from MEDC, which will help to accelerate their job growth here in Shiawassee County,” said Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership President/CEO Justin Horvath.

In addition, the County of Shiawassee Brownfield Redevelopment Authority received Michigan Strategic Fund approval of a brownfield plan including $988,500 in local and school tax capture to support a speculative building development project that will be located on the Great Lakes Fusion site. The project will redevelop property that is currently covered in large diameter-concrete culverts that prevent business expansion. A planned project following cleanup includes construction of a speculative 100,000-square-foot manufacturing facility that will include office space and loading bays. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $7.5 million and create 40 full-time equivalent jobs. The tax capture consists of $617,911 in state and $370,589 in local taxes, which will be used to alleviate the brownfield conditions at the site.

“We are very grateful for the support received from the Michigan Strategic Fund, which is a true catalyst in turning this blighted industrial property into a highly productive space that will create jobs and investment in our community,” said Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership President/CEO Justin Horvath. “Special thanks to Vernon Township, the Shiawassee County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, Shiawassee County Board of Commissioners, AKT Peerless Environmental Services and state Representative Ben Frederick for their leadership in moving this project forward.”