By Jim Bloch
Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced that Flash Steelworks will expand its operations into St. Clair County, investing $8.8 million in a currently empty plant in Ira Township.
The project will create 55 jobs paying an average wage of $32.82 per hour, compared the regional median wage of $20.61 per hour.
Whitmer made the announcement in a Feb. 6 press release from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
The 70,000 square foot plant, formerly occupied by Sejasmi Industries, Inc., has been empty for the past two years. The address of the facility is 6100 Bethuy Road.
The governor also announced a $7 million project in Emmet County that will create 15 jobs.
“Today, I’m excited to announce two Michigan companies are expanding operations in our state, building on our work to grow Michigan’s economy by creating 70 good-paying jobs in St. Clair and Emmet Counties,” said Whitmer in a statement. “Since taking office, I’ve been committed to making sure that anyone can make it in Michigan. That’s why I’ll work with anyone to keep helping companies invest and grow right here in Michigan. Together, let’s keep leading the future of manufacturing by bringing jobs and supply chains home.”
The MEDC and the Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County helped facilitate the Ira Township project.
“As we execute the ‘Make It In Michigan’ economic development strategy focused on People, Places and Projects, Team Michigan is proud to support and earn the investment of two Michigan-born companies expanding their manufacturing operations,” said Quentin L. Messer, Jr., chief operating officer of the MEDC in a statement.
Flash Steelworks, headquartered in Washington Township, was formed in 2006. It is a research and development firm and steel manufacturer that uses a patented method of heat-treating steel, which is energy efficient and uses renewable power.
“The resulting product, Flash Bainite, is made from commercially available low-cost steel, thus keeping budgets reasonable,” said the MEDC. “The company manufactures products that can be used in armor, automotive, bridges, containers, energy components, I-beams, rebar, ships, seawall, and more.”
The company will install a Flash armor production line in the Ira Township plant to support new contracts and begin production of the world’s highest performing armor plate, as tested by the U.S. Army, according to the MEDC.
“Founded 20 years ago in the Arsenal of Innovation, with a keen focus to protect democracy, Flash Steelworks creates steel that is stronger than titanium, lighter than aluminum, and is able to stop speeding bullets at record-setting velocity,” said Gary Cola, chief technology officer and founder of Flash Steelworks, in a statement.
The Michigan Strategic Fund is supporting the project through a Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant in the amount of $750,000.
“The Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County is proud to have been a part of bringing Flash Steelworks to Ira Township. The company’s advanced process of flash heating and cooling creates a high value and weldable steel that has successfully earned the business several government contracts,” said the EDA in a statement.
In addition to support from the Michigan Strategic Fund, the company has been awarded three Phase Three Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants from the Department of Energy and Department of Defense to fabricate full-scale production equipment.
Nearly 4,000 Michigan businesses serve the defense, aerospace and homeland security industries in Michigan, supporting 166,000 jobs.
According to the EDA, work is underway in Ira Township to ready the plant for production.
Emmet County
“Aster Brands is a family-owned business with deep roots in Northern Michigan going back to 1915,” said the MEDC. “The company, which specializes in steel forming systems for concrete product manufacturing, announced their plans to establish their new headquarters in Little Traverse Township, Emmet County.”
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
