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Swoboda Inc. makes $15 million investment in Kentwood

swoboda.de

A global auto parts manufacturer is investing millions in the expansion of its Kentwood facility this year resulting in a 2017 workforce expansion.

Germany-based auto parts maker, Swoboda Incorporated, located its first U.S. facility in Kentwood back in 1997. What started out with 60 employees in its first year grew to 100 employees in year number two. With help from regional economic development organization, The Right Place, it also expanded its Kentwood plant 80,000 square feet.

That partnership and commitment to West Michigan continues with The Right Place assisting Swoboda with a $200,000 performance-based, high-tech Michigan Strategic Fund grant through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Dollars Swoboda will leverage as it makes a $15 million investment in its Kentwood facility expanding another 25,000 square feet. As demand for auto parts continues to grow, Swoboda will also hire an additional 37 employees once the expansion is complete to meet demand.

The city of Kentwood is considering a Property Tax Abatement.

Patrick Center, WGVU New.  

Patrick joined WGVU Public Media in December, 2008 after eight years of investigative reporting at Grand Rapids' WOOD-TV8 and three years at WYTV News Channel 33 in Youngstown, Ohio. As News and Public Affairs Director, Patrick manages our daily radio news operation and public interest television programming. An award-winning reporter, Patrick has won multiple Michigan Associated Press Best Reporter/Anchor awards and is a three-time Academy of Television Arts & Sciences EMMY Award winner with 14 nominations.