KENT COUNTY, MI – As electric vehicle battery manufacturer Gotion prepares to establish roots in Big Rapids, Ferris State University is playing a key role with workers needed for the over 2,000 jobs expected to be created in West Michigan.
Ferris State was a major reason why the Chinese company was interested in building its new battery manufacturing plant in Big Rapids, Ferris State President Bill Pink said.
The university’s engineering programs offer a locally trained talent pool that will secure the region as a major battery manufacturer in a rapidly changing automotive industry.
“Gotion has made it clear that Ferris State University will be a strong partner in this effort for many years to come, and we are well prepared to do so,” Pink said in a FSU news release. “I am excited about this opportunity to advance our state, region, the city of Big Rapids, and our great university.”
Last week, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) approved $715 million in public incentives for Gotion as part of a deal to build a plant in Big Rapids, a move expected to create up to 2,350 jobs and generate a $2.4 billion investment. Officials said the average hourly wage of the new jobs is expected to total $29.42.
Related: Chinese battery manufacturer to bring $2.4B investment, up to 2,350 jobs to Big Rapids
The terms of the public incentives stipulate that Gotion would fulfill its jobs and investment requirements by Dec. 31, 2031. The company is planning to build the plant at a site near U.S. 131 and the Big Rapids airport.
University and state leaders gathered Oct. 5, at Ferris State’s Kendall College of Art and Design campus in Grand Rapids to announce the deal reached. At the event, Pink called the project a “once-in-a-century” collaboration for Big Rapids, Mecosta County and West Michigan.
Bobby Fleischman, Ferris State provost and vice president for academic affairs, said he sees the university as the ideal partner for this project because of its strong academic programs that can meet the company’s workforce needs.
“Ferris State University has advanced knowledge and program maturity in key applied knowledge areas like welding engineering of exotic materials, plastics engineering and injection mold design, metrology labs, and quality engineering,” Fleischman said.
“The state has already invested significantly in developing these program areas and laboratories at Ferris State. Leveraging this capability for advanced battery production education and research at Ferris State University is forward thinking and economical to produce the workforce the battery industry needs.”
Michael Staley, dean of Ferris’ College of Engineering Technology, said the significance of battery technology to the future of the automotive manufacturing sector cannot be overstated.
“Six major automotive manufacturing companies have pledged to stop production of internal combustion engine vehicles to major markets by 2035 and to stop supplying global markets by 2040,” Staley said in a statement. “These six manufacturers are Ford, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Land Rover and China’s BYD.”
“Developing battery production capabilities in Big Rapids will secure West Michigan dominance in battery technology for a rapidly changing automotive industry. However, we will also be developing the capability to pivot into many other industry sectors. The investments by the automotive industry in lithium battery production signal the importance of this technology in the supply chain of the automotive industry.”
The dean also pointed out that Ferris can help study the environmental impact of battery manufacturing to make the industry more sustainable.
“Ferris State University is uniquely positioned to conduct applied research in process improvements that could lead to waste reduction and the reuse of waste byproducts on the production line,” he said. “This ‘zero waste to landfill’ philosophy helps mitigate environmental impacts, reduces total embodied energy of final products and reduces cost of production.”
Gotion is the Silicon Valley-based subsidiary of Gotion High-tech Co., a company founded in 1998 and based in Hefei, China. The company plans to build two 550,000 square foot production plants in Big Rapids as well as an “electrical substation, sewage treatment station, testing center, warehouse, and other supporting facilities,” according to the MEDC.
The Right Place, a Grand Rapids-based economic development group, also assisted with the project.
“The Right Place is honored to have played a role in bringing this transformational project to the Big Rapids area,” Brent Case, the group’s vice president of business attraction, said in a statement.
“The location and community have been prepared for an opportunity like this to utilize the infrastructure, locally trained talent pool and outstanding resources from Ferris State University. We are well on our way to positioning the region at the center of West Michigan’s growing mobility and EV sector.”
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