LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today joined local officials
and company executives in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Neogen Corporation’s
new manufacturing facility in Lansing. During the celebration, the Governor
thanked company leaders for their strong commitment to Michigan and cited the
company as an example of the advanced manufacturing firms her economic plan
seeks to create.
“This company was born of an idea, a little start-up money and lot of
hard work by a few individuals at Michigan State University, and today it employs
hundreds of people here in mid-Michigan” Granholm said. “My plan
to invest billions in diversifying our economy will help create jobs and grow
companies like Neogen in communities across this state.”
Neogen, which is headquartered in Lansing, has facilities in four other states
and three foreign countries. The company had outgrown a veterinary instruments
manufacturing facility in Chicago and a dehydrated culture media production
facility in Baltimore. The company chose to invest $1.1 million in consolidating
the two facilities in Lansing and renovated the abandoned Dudley Paper Company
building to house the new plant. The facility provides Acumedia Manufacturing,
Inc., a subsidiary of Neogen Corp., with 50,000 square feet of space for manufacturing,
warehousing, distribution, and research and development. Since June 2004
when the expansion project began, Neogen has created 42 new good-paying jobs
in Lansing directly related to the project.
Granholm frequently cites Neogen Corporation as the type of company that she
is looking to bring to Michigan with her $2 billion proposal to diversify the
state’s economy. This investment will allow the state to invest
in cutting edge companies that are developing the products – and the jobs
– of the 21st century.
“Neogen and their affiliates are helping ensure that our food supply is
safe,” said Granholm. “The diversification that will result
from my economic plan will help make Michigan the home of cutting edge medical
research, advanced automotive manufacturing, alternative energy development
and more. But the Legislature needs to pass my plan.”