For years, the vacant 75-acre concrete slab off 36th Street in Wyoming, MI, stood as a haunting reminder of a once-thriving General Motors plant. Mayor Kent Vanderwood often drove by, questioning if this sprawling forlorn property would ever be revitalized. “This has been an eyesore in the city for a long time,” he remarked. “We’ve had numerous attempts at redevelopment, but nothing ever came to fruition. We couldn't help but wonder, ‘Will it ever happen?’”

After a Decade of Waiting, Movement Arrives

After a long struggle, the 75-acre property is finally witnessing significant progress. Construction has commenced on a brand new 315,000-square-foot Benteler Automotive plant. This plant will be dedicated to producing electric battery parts for Ford. Right beside it, Corewell Health is building a massive consolidated service center, and another developer is expected to finalize their plans soon.

The Economic Impact

Wyoming city leaders are ecstatic about the economic implications of redeveloping the former General Motors stamping plant site, known as “Site 36.” The arrival of these three new employers is set to create nearly 500 new, well-paying jobs. This development holds the promise of attracting new families to the growing city of Wyoming, which is just 10 minutes southwest of downtown Grand Rapids. “It’s going to be wonderful to see actual businesses and workers coming and going here,” said Mayor Vanderwood.

Benteler's Decision to Build in West Michigan

Benteler considered building the new EV plant in Florida and South Carolina to save on labor and building heating costs. However, the company ultimately chose West Michigan. Executive Vice President Steve Bates explained that the region has proven to be a reliable source of great talent. “The Hagen plant is just a mile away, and every worker there has 20 years of valuable experience in our company. We needed to rely on that for this new facility,” Bates said. “For us, it was all about having access to our own people. You can bring in people to build a place, but to make it successful, you need your own team. That's why it was about the people.”

The New Wyoming Plant's Purpose

Benteler, a German automotive supplier, plans to use the Wyoming assembly plant to produce V801 Ford transit van battery components for commercial vehicles. The operations will mainly involve welding, coating, and painting, with the goal of supplying 160,000 parts per year for at least a decade. While some may view a $105 million electric vehicle battery plant as a risky investment, Bates believes Benteler is comfortable making such a significant investment because the battery parts are specifically designed for commercial vehicles.

Partnering with Ford and Beyond

Benteler is also collaborating with Ford on a sister project in Turkey to produce the same battery components. This provides a safety net in case the market here experiences fluctuations. “The EV market is causing everyone to be nervous. Volumes are never guaranteed. But our enthusiasm for this project is that it's for commercial vehicles,” Bates said. Emerson Galina, President Americas of the Benteler Automotive Components Division, considers the Wyoming plant a major investment that demonstrates the company's commitment to e-mobility. “I've been on the board for six years, and this is the largest investment we've approved for a single project and customer. I tried to find data from the past, and there was no other project of this scale. This is highly significant as it shows our trust in the country, our team, and Ford.”

Job Creation and Wages

The project is expected to generate 147 new jobs. Over half of these positions will offer a starting wage of $21.62 per hour along with benefits. The rest of the jobs will have starting wages ranging from $23.80 to $67.31. Site plans for the project were approved by the Wyoming City Council in September.