July 20, 2010
July 20, 2010
Company's decision to remain in Twin Cities region demonstrates public-private partnership
LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today joined company and local officials to celebrate Whirlpool Corporation's announcement that it will build a new global headquarters campus in Benton Harbor. This will be the third of three main campuses that comprise the company's headquarters operations in the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph area.
"Whirlpool's decision to remain in the Twin Cities region is another example of state and local governments partnering with world-class corporations to help them grow and expand, and leverage these ventures into broader community development," Granholm said. "This expansion creates real opportunities for the rebirth of Benton Harbor."
Whirlpool plans to invest approximately $86.8 million to consolidate several business locations in the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph area. The project is expected to retain up to 2,336 total jobs, including 868 directly at the company. State incentives offered through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) helped Whirlpool choose to stay in Michigan over competing cities such as Chicago and Atlanta.
"Whirlpool has been a vital presence in southwest Michigan for nearly 100 years," Granholm said. "We're proud that they will continue to make the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph area their home."
Whirlpool's announcement follows the public debut of the 530-acre Harbor Shores development on Lake Michigan that straddles both Benton Harbor and St. Joseph. The development, built where several old industrial plants once stood, features a marina, riverwalk, commercial and retail space, condominiums, townhouses and a golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. The MEDC and Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) also played significant roles in the Harbor Shores development with incentives for brownfield redevelopment.
"Harbor Shores holds the promise of new Twin Cities jobs outside of the traditional manufacturing sector," Granholm said.
The Jack Nicklaus course, which opened this month, already has attracted the 2012 and 2014 PGA Senior Championship.
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