Team Michigan’s strong leadership won $13+ billion, nearly 13,000 jobs last year 

Lansing, MI  -- On Jan 17th, Governor Gretchen Whitmer celebrated the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Executive Committee’s approval of a new, four-year contract for CEO Quentin L. Messer, Jr. Under his game-changing leadership, Team Michigan has brought home over $13 billion in electric vehicle and battery manufacturing investments, helping to secure nearly 13,000 good-paying jobs while empowering small business and uplifting entire regions of the state. 

“Director Messer brings an incredible dedication to delivering impact and opportunity to people across Michigan through the economic development efforts of MEDC and Team Michigan,” said Governor Whitmer. “He’s used our powerful, bipartisan economic development tools to bring home over $13 billion in investment and secure nearly 13,000 jobs. Together, we will continue to stay laser focused on growing our economy, competing for every good-paying job, and making sure businesses and people alike know Michigan is a place that welcomes them all. Let’s keep delivering on the issues that matter, support businesses of all sizes, spur innovation, and move Michigan forward.” 

Michigan’s Economic Development 

Since the bipartisan economic development fund was created, Governor Whitmer and Director Messer have landed $13.52 billion of investments and 12,977 jobs from in-demand industries. These include: 

• General Motors?investing $7 billion, creating 4,000 and retaining 1,000 jobs, to convert Orion Township assembly plant to build full-size electric vehicle pickups and build Ultium’s third U.S. battery cell plant in Lansing.  
• Ford investing $2 billion, creating more than 3,200 jobs in plants across Michigan to support electric vehicle manufacturing growth and secure internal combustion engine portfolio in the state.  

• Gotion establishing production capacity for the U.S. by constructing a new manufacturing facility in Big Rapids, generating a total capital investment of more than $2.36 billion and creating up to 2,350 jobs 
• Our Next Energy (ONE) investing $1.6 billion and creating up to 2,112 jobs where it will establish its first cell and electric vehicle battery pack gigafactory in Van Buren Township 
• Hemlock Semiconductor investing $375 million, creating 170 jobs in Thomas Township to strengthen Michigan’s leadership in the semiconductor supply chain. 
• Southeast Regional Force Main project investing at least $185 million and creating 145 new jobs to provide wastewater support and disposal services to areas southeast of the existing Muskegon County resources Recovery Center service district.  

• This will be a critical benefit to nearby agricultural businesses, including Fairlife Continental Dairy, DeVries Meats, Applegate Dairy, and Swanson Pickle, which will allow these major employers in the region to stay planted firmly here in Michigan. 

Quentin Messer Jr. 

“I am humbled by the opportunity to continue to serve Michigan in the best job and on the best team in economic development alongside my colleagues here at the MEDC,” Messer said. “Working alongside our partners in the Whitmer administration, the MEDC Executive Committee, the bipartisan legislature, our local and regional partners and in labor and talent development and education we will continue to out-hustle and out-compete to get the job done – from bringing new investment to the state and revitalizing communities on both peninsulas to strengthening the business environment for our Michigan-grown companies – in order to secure economic opportunity for today, and future generations here in Michigan. We have made a lot of progress and we embrace the challenge of completing the remaining work. Let’s get it!” 

Since Messer started as CEO of MEDC in July 2021, the state has seen significant momentum in bipartisan economic development efforts including Governor Whitmer signing legislation establishing the SOAR fund, a renewed emphasis on site readiness in the state, the creation of a EV/mobility and semiconductor Talent Action Teams to fill in-demand jobs in key industries, the creation of the Small Business Services & Support Team at MEDC to strengthen the ecosystem of support for entrepreneurs and the deployment of nearly $100 million in American Rescue Plan dollars to enhance community vitality while addressing impacts of the pandemic on public gathering places and office buildings. 

Messer was named by Financial Times as a member of the 2021 Agenda Diversity 100, Crain’s Detroit Business, 50 Names to Know in Government (2021), Biz New Orleans CEO of the Year (2020), Biz New Orleans Businessperson of the Year (2019), by Consultants Connect as one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers (2020, 2019) and by Ebony Magazine for its Ebony Power 100 as a Power Player (2018). 

Messer is a degree recipient from Princeton and Columbia Universities. Read Messer’s full bio here.