By: Gena Johnson | Warren Weekly | Published March 3, 2023
WARREN — On Feb. 28, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. announced two business expansion projects in Michigan, one in Warren and the other in Jackson.
Home Depot Inc., one of the world’s largest home improvement retailers, is slated to make a greater presence in Warren by building a new, state-of-the art distribution center at the sprawling former GM Warren Transmission Plant property on Mound Road north of Nine Mile Road.
According to the governor in a press release, “The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $6.1 million and create around 80 jobs, supported by a $480,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. Michigan was chosen for the project over a competing site in Ohio.”
In addition, the governor stated, most associates in the new distribution center will prepare large or bulk items like lumber for shipping to stores and customers. The jobs offer consistent schedules and competitive pay, and Home Depot provides growth and promotional opportunities, training programs, paid internships, and tuition reimbursement. The distribution center will provide same-day and next-day delivery to customers in the Midwest.
According to the press release, the city of Warren has offered staff assistance in support of the project. Interested applicants can visit careers.homedepot.com/ for more information.
“Yes, I am very happy about it (the Home Depot distribution center). It takes an older site, somewhat of an eyesore and it has been polluted. It’s been cleaned up and we’re going to have to have a productive place, a world center for Home Depot,” said Warren Mayor James Fouts. “I think a lot of this was due to the fact that we advertised about moving to Warren and about different places offered (in Warren). We’ve done some data and analysis and found out that the MI Warren campaign on television has led to business coming to Warren and people moving to Warren.”
The Home Depot facility is part of a larger project that will include the demolition of the existing structures, site and utility infrastructure development and 1.4 million square feet of new industrial space that will house multiple tenants.
The construction crews have demolished the former structure, cleared the area and part of the new building is erected.
“Macomb County is very pleased to see this very large and recently idled corner in the city of Warren redeveloped for a new use so quickly,” said Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development Director Vicki Rowinski. “It goes to show that Macomb County’s busy-friendly ecosystem is working as it should.”
The other Michigan expansion project is Commonwealth Industries in Jackson. Commonwealth Industries is an electrical engineering firm that has been part of the Jackson community for more than 100 years. They are relocating their headquarters to downtown Jackson where they have purchased and renovated the four-story Comerica Bank facility.
According to the governor, the company selected Michigan over a competing site in Texas. This project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $4.2 million and create 60 engineering and office management jobs. It was supported by a $400,000 Jobs Ready Michigan program performance-based grant.
“Let’s keep working together to grow our economy and create good-paying jobs. Our bipartisan economic development tools helped us bring home $17 billion of projects securing 15,500 jobs,” said Whitmer.