Lansing lands a vital Tesla supplier contract, thanks to LEAP

2018 has been a good year for the Lansing area, from a foreign investment standpoint. Between the multi-million dollar dairy processing plant that's now underway in the St. John's area, and this new contract with Norm Fasteners to supply fasteners for Tesla's new Model 3, there are vital new job opportunities being created in the area.

Keith Lambert, VP of Business Attraction at LEAP, who helped to broker both deals, says it's wonderful to see LEAP's global investment pipeline bearing fruit for the Lansing area. So who and what are Norm Fasteners, and why should you be excited about this deal? There are loads of reasons, but we'll start with a few basics - like the fact that this'll be the first ever North American operation for this Turkish-based company, and it'll be housed in a historic warehouse on E. Hazel street in Lansing.

Norm Fasteners is a U.S. subsidiary of Norm Group, a Turkish company founded in 1973. They've since become an industry leader in the manufacture of connectors, from bolts to fasteners, and have also diversified over the years into machines, logistics and marketing services. Over the past decade Norm Group has expanded from a single production facility to nine production facilities in Turkey, placing them squarely in the list of Turkey's top 10 firms.

In a recent press release announcing the partnership, Koray Gurbuz, the America General Manager of Norm Fasteners, expressed his excitement at what lies ahead for the Turkish company here in Lansing. “Norm Fasteners is excited for the opportunity to partner with LEAP, the City of Lansing, and the State of Michigan to launch our business here in the United States.”

And if this company has their way, Lansing will be the first of many investments into the U.S. "We're well positioned for continued growth in the global Automotive market," Gurbuz explained, "And we can see immense opportunity in other North American markets as well."

Mayor Andy Schor, who joined LEAP and Norm Fasteners for the announcement of the Tesla contract, was quick to share his pleasure at seeing new investments blossoming in the Capital area. "We're here to tell businesses around the globe that Lansing’s Time is Now, and there is no better time to launch or expand operations in this city and region of Michigan. This project is especially exciting because a fast-growing international company is choosing to invest in the United States, with Lansing as its foothold.”

When you consider the fact that Lansing was only one of many competing locations lobbying for this contract, alongside places like Chicago, it's encouraging to see our diverse history in the auto industry working in our favor. So here's to a successful international partnership, with years of growth and prosperity ahead for the Capital region.


Source: Keith Lambert, Vice President of Business Attraction, LEAP
Writer: Sarah Hillman, News Editor, Lansing

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