Fabric Building Covers, a Canada-based manufacturer of fabric building covers and metal buildings, is expanding in Hudsonville with support from the Michigan Strategic Fund. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $1.5 million and create 21 jobs in advanced manufacturing.
The company’s decision underscores the state’s leadership in advanced manufacturing and future mobility, and builds on Michigan’s economic momentum,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says in a statement announcing the investment.
“Michigan was chosen for this expansion because of our talented workforce and strength in advanced manufacturing. We’re pleased to welcome Fabric Building Covers to Michigan and look forward to working with the company as it continues to grow here and add jobs for Michiganders. Together, we can continue to send a clear message that everyone is welcome to make it in Michigan,” Whitmer says in the statement.
Fabric Building Covers USA Inc. is a subsidiary of Britespan Building Systems, a Canadian producer of fabric covers and manufactured metal buildings. The company manufactures steel buildings, and fabric building covers and accessories. It does not currently have a presence in Michigan.
At capacity in Canada
The company is at capacity for fabric production at its Canadian location and plans to lease a facility in the city of Hudsonville, where it will make renovations and add machinery and equipment. The project aligns with the company’s long-term strategy to secure future business and will likely lead to additional expansion to increase metal building production.
The investment will be supported with a $117,600 Micro Michigan Business Development Program (MBDP) performance-based grant. Michigan was chosen for the project over other states in the Midwest and Canada because of the company’s strong, well-developed customer base it already has established here.
“We are very pleased we are in a position to expand our presence in Michigan and contribute to the local economy,” says John MacDonald, Britespan president. “Our new facility will allow us to create more jobs and support the growth of the manufacturing sector in the state, expediting our production timelines in the USA. We would like to thank the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) and its local partners for their support in this exciting initiative.”
Good-paying jobs
The project will bring good-paying manufacturing jobs to the rural community of Hudsonville and could lead to future investment by the company in the state. Individuals interested in careers with Fabric Building Covers should visit
https://britespanbuildings.com/careers/.
“The decision by Fabric Building Covers to establish new operations in Michigan underscores our state’s leadership in advanced manufacturing as well as the strength of our business climate and talented workforce,” says Matt McCauley, MEDC senior vice president of regional prosperity. “This project is a win for West Michigan and for the entire state. We are grateful to Gov. Whitmer, legislators from both parties, and local officials for their continued support for our programs that help make announcements like today’s possible. We appreciate the work of our local partners in supporting our efforts to create high-skill jobs for our residents, and will continue working to win projects, invest in places and support our people as we encourage businesses of all sizes to make it in Michigan.”
The Fabric Building Covers project was supported through the Micro MBDP tool, adopted by the Michigan Strategic Fund in 2019. The Micro MBDP is designed to promote business growth, especially in rural areas or areas with high unemployment, as well as target industries. The Micro MBDP provides grants, loans, or other economic assistance to businesses for highly competitive projects in Michigan that have fewer job creation numbers than required by the original MBDP guidelines.
“We are thrilled that Fabric Building Covers USA chose West Michigan’s lakeshore region for its first U.S. manufacturing location,” says Jennifer Owens, president of Lakeshore Advantage. “Our region’s skilled workforce and manufacturing leadership directly impacted this international company’s decision to select our region. We proudly welcome Fabric Building Covers USA to our robust manufacturing community.”
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