Kathy McMahon, director of communications for the MEDC, toldGlobeSt.com that it hopes the company will locate 500 employees atone of four sites: Ann Arbor, Oakland County's Automation Alleyalong I-75, Pinnacle Aeropark under development at Detroit MetroWayne County Airport or the Campus Martius office project indowntown Detroit.

Covisint has 200 employees in a temporary Southfield, MI-office.Company officials say they are not ready until the fall to make adecision of where to locate, and must wait for a selection of achief executive officer and the results of a federal antitrustinvestigation. McMahon says Michigan is competing with SiliconValley, CA, for the headquarters. "We really went through and madea business case for why they should choose Michigan. We're home tothe major Tier 1 automotive businesses, and have 90% of allautomotive research and development companies in our state," shesays.

No specific dollar amount was offered to the company, but $1million could be given by the MEDC for worker recruitment, McMahonsays. Other perks like free pizza for a year and free state parkpasses for employees were offered as icing on the cake. The MEDC, astate agency, can offer tax credits and assistance to Covisint.