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ST. CLAIR, MI-An incentive package offered by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. was enough to convince Marysville-based Blue Water Automotive Systems Inc. to expand on native soil. The company, which was considering moving operations to Mexico, has decided to invest $6.5 million for a 40,000-sf expansion of its Blue Water Molded Systems plant.

The MEDC offered an incentive package valued at approximately $362,000, which includes a job training grant valued at $17,500 to win the project. The City of St. Clair also has proposed tax abatements worth an estimated $604,400.

The facility, located in the Christian B. Haas Industrial Park, will be ready for production by January after the expansion is complete. The company will add 35 jobs and retain 160 positions due to the expansion.

Andy Ridgway, Blue Water's president and CEO, says the government entities involved in the decision-making process made an attractive and sound appeal to remain local. "They certainly convinced us that the option to enlarge our Haas Drive facility was our best business decision," he says.

Blue Water Automotive Systems is the successor to Sarnamotive Blue Water, which was recently sold by the Swiss firm Sarna Kunststoff Holding AG to BWAS Holdings Inc. an affiliate of KPS Special Situations Fund II of New York City. Blue Water operates seven facilities in Michigan, including five in St. Clair County that employ 800 workers.

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Incentive Package Persuades Business to Bypass Mexico, Expand Locally

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