German Parts Maker's Northville Tech Center to Add 571 Jobs

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The Michigan Strategic Fund has approved a $4 million performance grant for ZF Friedrichshafen AG to assist in a $71 million expansion of the German car parts maker’s Northville technical center that will add 571 jobs.

The grant was awarded to the company’s subsidiary, ZF North America Inc., on Tuesday. The Strategic Fund is an arm of the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

Crain’s Detroit Business reports the nearly 210,000-square-foot expansion will boost the company’s research and development of new transmission, steering, axle and chassis components and for cars, commercial vehicles and off-road vehicles. The grant isn’t for construction, but will offset operating costs, the MEDC said.

ZF Michigan currently employs 1,231. In North America, the company employs 7,300 people.

Also Tuesday, the Michigan Strategic Fund:

• Approved a $7.9 million brownfield tax capture for the M1 Concourse project to redevelop the General Motors Pontiac Validation Center for a 264-car condo and demonstration track for defensive-driving courses, vehicle testing, private-course driving and performance driving schools. The project includes a restaurant, events center and retail space. The project owul create about 95 full-time jobs paying an average of $20 an hour.
• Approved a bond allowing Master Automatic Machine Co. Inc. to close on $4 million in tax-exempt financing to retool its Livonia and Plymouth Township plants, which makes auto parts. The company plans to add 82 jobs to its current workforce of 177 within four years.
• Approved a bond inducement resolution to allow KTab II LLC, the owner of property in Warren occupied by Packaging Specialties Inc., to begin selling $4.3 million in tax-exempt bonds to assist the tenant in relocating its Ecorse manufacturing operation to larger building in Romulus. That project is expected to result in another 50 jobs, doubling the workforce to 103.