An Upper Peninsula manufacturer will expand its facility to support its work with the U.S. Department of Defense.
Great Lakes Sound & Vibration is investing $8.5 million to consolidate their manufacturing operations under one roof in Houghton County. The investment will support projects with the U.S. military and other contractors that build tanks, trucks, ships and aircraft.
The 26,000-square-foot expansion will also create 42 jobs in the Keweenaw Peninsula.
“Great Lakes Sound & Vibration is a unique business providing unique solutions to difficult problems at the Department of Defense. They continue their growth by adapting to the ever-changing defense industry needs for new and innovative solutions to sound and vibration as well as new product development,” said Jeff Ratcliffe, Executive Director of the Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance in a statement.
The Michigan Strategic Fund awarded Great Lakes Sound & Vibration a $400,000 grant to support the project.
Great Lakes Sound & Vibration, established in 1996, provides acoustic, shock and vibration equipment for the defense industry. The company previously chose to expand in Michigan when it invested $1.4 million into rehabbing a former Goodwill Training Center at the Houghton County Airpark.
The company won a $4.4 million contract from the U.S. Department of Defense last year.
It’s part of a robust defense industry in Michigan that contributes $30 billion in economic activity to the state and has created more than 166,000 jobs at nearly 4,000 businesses, according to the state.
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist traveled to Houghton County this week to celebrate the investment from Great Lakes Sound & Vibration. While there on Wednesday, Feb. 12, he highlighted another U.P. defense manufacturer that’s growing because of new private industry contracts.
Loukus technologies was awarded a $300,000 grant to support its $1.6 million investment in Calumet. The company is planning to expand into another building for its machining, finishing, packaging and shipping operations.
“They’re walking the walk when it comes to Making it in Michigan, creating 90 good-paying jobs in our Upper Peninsula,” Gilchrist said about the investments from Loukus and Great Lakes Sound & Vibration. “I applaud their major contributions to the defense and energy sectors and can’t wait to see what they do next to help our communities thrive.”
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