Governor Granholm Announces Second Round of Winners for Recovery Act Grants and Loans to Help Michigan's Small Manufacturers

June 25, 2010

Governor applauds Michigan's congressional delegation for support of Recovery Act, making critical economic investment possible

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that the state of Michigan will award nine small manufacturers $15 million in grants and $5 million in loans for a total of $20 million through the Clean Energy Advanced Manufacturing (CEAM) program.  Michigan's CEAM awards, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), are designed to help Michigan businesses diversify into high-growth, clean-energy industries.

The CEAM award recipients were selected from among 40 applicants representing more than $105 million in proposed projects.  The funding will allow small Michigan businesses to diversify into advanced manufacturing of renewable energy systems and components that will boost the state's economy, create jobs, and reduce our reliance on imported energy.

"We're building on Michigan's long history of manufacturing know-how to position our state as a leader in renewable and alternative energy," said Granholm.  "Our Clean Energy Advanced Manufacturing program will help move Michigan businesses into the clean energy industry, creating hundreds of jobs while helping the nation reduce its dependence on fossil fuels." 

Governor Granholm singled out Michigan Senators Levin and Stabenow and key Michigan members of the U.S. House of Representatives for their leadership in support of Recovery Act funding.

"Because Michigan's congressional leaders stood strong in support of putting these vital federal resources to work building Michigan's economy, we're now experiencing the positive impact in Michigan communities from Monroe to Mackinaw City," said Granholm.

The members of Michigan's congressional delegation who voted in support of the Recovery Act are Senator Carl Levin and Senator Debbie Stabenow; Representatives John Conyers (D-Detroit), John Dingell (D-Dearborn), Dale Kildee (D-Flint, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-Detroit), Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Twp.), Mark Schauer (D-Battle Creek), and Bart Stupak (D-Menominee).

Any for-profit Michigan business with 500 or fewer employees was eligible to apply.  The second round CEAM award winners are:

• URV USA LLC of Rochester:   $4 million ($500,000 loan and $3.5M grant) to manufacture next generation, metal cast, utility scale wind energy system turbine bedplates and hub components.
• Grid Logic, Inc. of Metamora:  $5 million ($1.5 M loan and $3.5M grant) to manufacture next generation Fault Current Limiters (FCLs), to be used by utility companies to improve the efficiency and performance of the electric grid and assist in the incorporation of alternative energy sources.
• Ventower Industries of Monroe:  $3.477 million ($1.227M loan and $2.25M grant) to manufacture structural steel towers used to support commercial sized wind turbines.
• Great Lakes Industry Gear, LLC of Jackson:  $2.5 million ($500,000 loan and $2M grant) to manufacture wind turbine gears and gearboxes.
• AMPTECH of Manistee:  $573,000 ($273,000 loan and $300,000 grant) to manufacture next generation smart combiner box for solar panels.
• Heat Transfer International of Kentwood:  $2.75 million ($550,000 loan and $2.2 M grant) to manufacture next generation biomass gasification power systems.
• KC Jones Plating Company of Warren:  $300,000 ($150,000 loan and $150,000 grant) to apply next generation surface finishing technology to wind turbine components to improve metal parts resistant to corrosion and decrease wear.
• Innotec, Inc. of Zeeland:  $1.2 million ($200,000 loan and $1M grant) to manufacture PCB-free LED integrated lighting panels.
• Polar Seal Window Corporation of Grand Rapids:  $200,000 ($100,000 loan and $100,000 grant) to manufacture a new energy efficient commercial window framing.

In December 2009, five Michigan companies received $15.5 million in the first round of CEAM awards, allowing them to expand and create 713 jobs by 2011 and 1,400 by 2014.  The five first round CEAM grant recipients include:

• Energetx Composites, LLC in Holland: awarded $3.5 million to manufacture large scale, advanced composite wind turbine blades.  Energetx recently has begun production of wind turbine components at its Holland facility.
• Astraeus Wind Energy, Inc. in Eaton Rapids: awarded $7 million to manufacture wind turbine blades and hub components.  Astraeus is currently purchasing equipment and preparing production facilities. 
• Loc Performance Products, Inc. in Plymouth: awarded $1.5 million to manufacture planetary gears and gearboxes for wind turbines.  Loc is currently working with customers to design and develop wind turbine gears for production.
• LUMA Resources LLC in Rochester Hills: awarded $.5 million to manufacture residential photovoltaic solar materials.  The LUMA Resource Solar Shingle is in production and the company is training roofing contractors on installation.
• Merrill Technologies Group in Saginaw: awarded $3 million to manufacture large scale wind turbine blades and system components.  Merrill is manufacturing some wind turbine components and preparing for additional production.

The Recovery Act is a one-time opportunity to rebuild Michigan's economy and put Michigan citizens back to work.  Governor Granholm has identified creating new jobs and jumpstarting Michigan's economy as one of the priorities for spending Michigan's share of the economic recovery dollars.

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