Organization

Fleming: Jackson faces tough competition

Sunday, July 27, 2008
By Chris Gautz
cgautz@citpat.com—768-4926

Scott Fleming says Jackson has some tough competition in its quest to be designated as a SmartZone.

Four other communities—Macomb County, Wayne County, Saginaw and Sault Ste. Marie—all submitted SmartZone applications before the July 1 deadline, according to documents obtained by the Citizen Patriot.

After briefly reviewing the applications Friday, Fleming, President and CEO of The Enterprise Group, the county’s economic-development agency, said Saginaw and Macomb’s stood out as very strong.

``They are all legitimate applications,’’ he said.

The five areas are now competing for as many as three SmartZone designations.

Odail Thorns, director of development for the city of Saginaw, said the Saginaw Valley SmartZone would be a real opportunity to add to their medical industry.

``We want to have ourselves positioned to grow in that area,’’ Thorns said.

Thorns said they do not have an Local Development Financing Authority established, and would work to create one in the city on 400 acres along the Saginaw River.

``It enhances our ability to work with our universities,’’ he said.

He said the idea of the SmartZone and its potential is not well known in the community, but he believes it could be great, and they have already had meetings with investors.

The Macomb Technology Advancement SmartZone would focus on two key areas; defense and advanced manufacturing.

By 2010, it expects to create 12 new companies and employee 129 people. It would be teaming with Oakland University.

A representative from the area could not be reached for comment.

Chip Snider, township manager for the Charter Township of Northville, said they hope a Western Wayne County SmartZone will help attract businesses offering high-paying jobs in the defense and advanced manufacturing sectors.

``We’ve already created three new high-tech automotive businesses in the last year,’’ Snider said.

They do not have an LDFA established, and the SmartZone would be comprised of five, non-contiguous areas in Canton, Plymouth, Northville, and Redford Townships, and the city of Westland.

Snider said the proposed area in Northville township is 200 acres. Schoolcraft College, he said, is purchasing 36 acres in the area to build a police and fire academy.

Snider said they would use the taxes captured to fund infrastructure improvements, including roads, and sewer and water.

The Sault Ste. Marie SmartZone is projected to create a minimum of 230 direct jobs and would partner with Lake Superior State University.

It would focus on the ``design for manufacturing’’ stage to carry a prototype to sufficient detail that will enable mass production, according to its application.

A representative from the area could not be reached for comment.