Saab invests $75M to open new Michigan manufacturing facility to support the U.S. military
Saab has announced plans to establish an integration and assembly facility in Grayling Township, Michigan. The plant will be used to help meet the needs of the U.S. Military. The defense and aerospace company will invest more than $75 million into the project, generating 70 new jobs in the process. To help support the project, Saab will receive a $3.5 million Michigan Business Development Program (MBDP) grant, as well as a 15-year, 100% SESA exemption with an estimated value of up to $664,500. Construction on the new facility will begin later this year, with production beginning in 2026.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, Erik Smith, President and CEO of Saab in the U.S., said, “Given current global security challenges, it is critical the United States strengthens its national defense capacity. Saab is proud to partner with the state of Michigan and the local community to establish a world-class facility that, with our range of products, will increase and modernize the domestic production of munition systems. We are making a long-term commitment not only to the U.S. defense industrial base, but to the local community as well. Saab plays a positive role in the communities where we live and work, creating jobs and investing in the local community, and we look forward to joining the Grayling community.”
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer added, “Saab’s transformative investment in Grayling will create 70 jobs and contribute to Michigan’s proud legacy and leadership in the defense industry. We will continue pursuing our comprehensive economic development strategy to secure projects, invest in people, and uplift places across Michigan. With Saab’s decision to ‘Make It in Michigan,’ we are building on our economic momentum and strong reputation as a leader in advanced manufacturing. We built the arsenal of democracy to win WWII and will keep rolling up our sleeves to protect our national defense. Let’s get it done.”
Manufacturers investing in Michigan
NanoGraf awarded $60M to build silicon anode battery materials manufacturing plant in Michigan
The facility will produce 2,500 tons per year of NanoGraf’s proprietary silicon anode material.
Mitra Chem awarded $125M to build battery material manufacturing facility in Michigan
The new production plant will be the first mass production facility for lithium iron phosphate cathodes in North America.
Stellantis invests $406M to upgrade 3 Michigan plants to manufacture electric vehicles
Stellantis hopes this investment will improve its competitive advantages across a wide variety of electrification adoption scenarios.
Investing in American manufacturing in 2024
This map shows where manufacturers are choosing to invest their resources, whether they are building new production facilities or expanding existing plants.
About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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