Gentex Corporation is opening a technology hub in downtown Grand Rapids designed to help the company support, attract, and retain top engineering and software talent from throughout West Michigan.
Gentex is a technology company and long-time supplier of electro-optical products for the global automotive, aerospace and fire protection industries. The company is Ottawa County’s largest employer, with over 6,000 team members working at its main campus in Zeeland and nearby Lakeshore facilities.
The new technology hub is on the second floor of 25 Ottawa, in the heart of
downtown Grand Rapids. Gentex is leasing the space, which is designed to support over 100 team members with modern workstations, conference rooms, hoteling spaces, and common areas that allow for collaboration and networking. In addition, workers will have access to a tenant-only fitness center, conference facility and bike room.
“Gentex continually needs top talent, especially engineering and software technologists who can support our growing business and expanding product portfolio,” says Neil Boehm, Gentex’s chief technology officer. “Gentex is best known for automotive electronics, but we continue to grow our capabilities in vision systems, sensing, AI development, biometrics, home automation and more. If you like the idea of working in a vibrant city center for a diversified, highly successful, and resource-rich technology company, then check us out.”
Drawing talent to region
Gentex’s announcement was lauded by local economic development organizations,
including the The Right Place, which works to fuel economic prosperity
through strategies to retain, expand and attract businesses.
“We’re excited to see a thriving tech-focused company like Gentex continue to grow in the region,” says Randy Thelen, resident and CEO of The Right Place. “This move by Gentex aligns with our region’s goal of becoming one of the leading tech hubs in the Midwest. This new space will accelerate the development, retention, and attraction of top tech talent to West Michigan.”
This is Gentex’s second expansion into Grand Rapids. In May, Gentex opened a satellite production facility in the Madison Square neighborhood to boost its hourly employee base and provide greater access to well-paying jobs. The new facility produces electronic sub-assemblies and, when fully operational, will operate two shifts and employ 50 team members in light assembly, warehousing and logistics.
Over the past couple of years, Gentex has been addressing some of the region’s
largest barriers to employment. In 2021, the company launched Spanish-speaking assembly lines to provide expanded employment opportunities for West Michigan’s growing Hispanic community.
Today, over 230 Spanish-speaking employees work on production lines throughout the company.
In May, Gentex broke ground on a first-of-its-kind childcare and preschool designed to provide its employees with access to quality, affordable, on-site day care. The facility, which is scheduled to open in late 2024, will be on Gentex’s Zeeland campus. It’s designed to accommodate the children of first- and second-shift workers, with a capacity of up to 250 children per shift
To learn about job openings in Gentex, visit
www.gentex.com/grjobs.
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