Lansing Sun

Gentex, a worldwide leader in innovative automotive and advanced technologies has announced that it will expand its Zeeland campus.

A joint announcement was made this week by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that Gentex had agreed to spend $300 million on new construction in Zeeland, a press release from the governor’s office said.

“Gentex’s $300 million investment creating 500 good-paying jobs will grow Michigan’s economy and help us continue leading the future of mobility and electrification,” Whitmer said in the release. “We can attract bold investments from cutting-edge firms like Gentex because of our bipartisan collaboration on economic development legislation last year, which has already led to billions of dollars in investment in Michigan and thousands of jobs.”

Whitmer added that the company has a rich history in the state and will contribute to its historic legacy in the automotive industry.  

The expansion is expected to facilitate 500 well-paying jobs and is being backed by the Michigan Strategic Fund. The company currently employs more than 5,000 workers. 

“We’re excited to announce that after two years of analyzing our manufacturing and R&D footprint, we’ve reached an agreement with the State of Michigan that supports our long-standing commitment to the state and provides the incentives necessary to facilitate our future growth initiatives in Michigan,” Steve Downing, president and CEO of Gentex Corporation, said in the release.

Downing added that the investment will go toward constructing new buildings and equipment over the next three years to back the company’s initiatives.

“Gentex is our region’s largest employer and is an excellent example of a future-focused company expanding and providing high-skilled jobs in West Michigan,” Jennifer Owens, Lakeshore Advantage president, said in the release. “We are honored to support the growth of this local turned global company and we celebrate their continued success.”