Tecumseh Products plans multi-million dollar investment in Mississippi plant
Tecumseh Products Company has consolidated its operations in the Ann Arbor area, but company officials announced this week that a manufacturing facility in Verona, Miss., will undergo a multi-million dollar expansion.
The expansion is expected to create up to 150 new jobs at the facility, which will begin producing Tecumseh’s new energy-efficient AE2 commercial refrigeration compressor.
Tecumseh Products Company's corporate headquarters and global technology center are both housed in the State Street Business Park in Pittsfield Township.
Lizzy Alfs | AnnArbor.com
According to a news release from Tecumseh Products Company, the Mississippi Development Authority provided expansion support for building modifications and relocation assistance for equipment.
“Expansion of our Verona manufacturing production wouldn’t be possible without the strong financial assistance from the state of Mississippi,” Jim Connor, president and CEO of Tecumseh Products Co, said in a statement.
“The opportunity is timely as the global economy continues to improve along with the demand for our products.”
The announcement of the expansion came during a briefing with Mississippi Gov.Phil Bryant, who announced a $31 million bond request for economic development incentives packages in his first State of the State Address in 2012.
“The expansion of these manufacturing lines and the creation of new jobs at Tecumseh’s Verona location are great news for the entire community,” Gov. Bryant said in a statement. “Tecumseh’s commitment serves as a testament to the supportive business climate and dedicated workforce.”
Tecumseh Products makes a wide variety of cooling unit compressors. The company operates manufacturing facilities France, Brazil, India, Mexico, Canada and the United States, employing approximately 7,300 people worldwide. The company’s corporate headquarters and global technology center — which were recently combined in Pittsfield Township — have approximately 140 employees.
The company’s stock (NASDAQ: TECUA) spiked to a year high at $11.96 per share Wednesday morning when news of the expansion was released, but was trading at $11.17 per share at the close on Thursday. The stock started what has been a very up-and-down year for the company at $4.84 per share.
Ben Freed covers business for AnnArbor.com. You can sign up here to receive Business Review updates every week. Get in touch with Ben at 734-623-2528 or email him at benfreed@annarbor.com. Follow him on twitter @BFreedinA2
Comments
incubo734
Fri, Jul 26, 2013 : 4:18 p.m.
So Michissippi IS coming true in a sense! Snyder, I can't wait to vote against you!
Ichibod Crane
Fri, Jul 26, 2013 : 2:37 p.m.
I see Gov. Nerd's Right-to-Work-for-Less jobs are just flooding into Michigan.
John of Saline
Fri, Jul 26, 2013 : 2:18 p.m.
The compressors must sell well. I mean, they're making them in FRANCE. Land of the worker who can't be fired without proof he's setting bombs daily on the production line. And even then, you'd better have all the right paper work!
NSider
Fri, Jul 26, 2013 : 1:25 p.m.
Now there is 1 state that is actually in worse shape than Michigan. You don't hear about a lot of people moving south for the opportunities in Mississippi, do you?
SEC Fan
Fri, Jul 26, 2013 : 5:49 p.m.
Seriously? Nice bubble to live in. Michigan's population has actually declined almost 1% over the past 10 years. Mississippi's has increased by almost 5%. So, actually, it looks more as if no one wants to come to Michigan...
sayzme
Fri, Jul 26, 2013 : 1:20 p.m.
A local company creating jobs....out of state that is. Thanks Snyder! Your plans to funnel the money to the top are working beautifully!
B2Pilot
Sat, Jul 27, 2013 : 2:18 a.m.
oh and those Ford jobs are in Michigan sayzme
B2Pilot
Sat, Jul 27, 2013 : 2:16 a.m.
yes and ford just announced they are adding 3000 higher paying jobs in Michigan.
Nicholas Urfe
Fri, Jul 26, 2013 : 1:14 p.m.
I guess the GOP hasn't quite made us "Michissippi" enough yet.
Basic Bob
Sat, Jul 27, 2013 : 12:02 a.m.
No, and unions won't be able to make the new plant Michisippi, either. They have the educational deficit correct, but the folks down there don't work as hard at avoiding work.
Hugh Giariola
Fri, Jul 26, 2013 : 12:46 p.m.
Isn't Tecumseh looking for a tax abatement too? I thought there was a recent story related to that.
Ben Freed
Mon, Jul 29, 2013 : 1:52 p.m.
Yes, Tecumseh has requested an IFT abatement from Pittsfield Township for improvements to their new corporate headquarters.
Elaine F. Owsley
Fri, Jul 26, 2013 : 11:07 a.m.
Does the company have anything left in Tecumseh?
Slim Jim
Fri, Jul 26, 2013 : 10:47 p.m.
A toxic Brownfield is all that remains in Tecumseh.
Alan Goldsmith
Fri, Jul 26, 2013 : 10:11 a.m.
Pure Michigan. Great job Gov. Nerd!
B2Pilot
Sat, Jul 27, 2013 : 3:15 a.m.
Here is a reference to the a2 . com article Nick - After Google announced its desire to establish an office in the Ann Arbor area in 2006, then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm endorsed efforts by local and state governments to offer incentives. Google promised to hire 1,000 employees by 2011 in exchange for tax credits from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. worth more than $38 million over 20 years. The city of A2 set aside 2 million for free parking for Google employees.
B2Pilot
Sat, Jul 27, 2013 : 2:13 a.m.
so nick the point I was making is that the state should not offer incentives to lure companies. that strategy has not worked out. Are you saying that the state should be offering incentives? You Are you saying that google was not promised tax incentives for positions? That is a lie. there was a deal made. Michigan does not have money to give to companies in the form of incentives. How about the movie industry is that a better example for you?
Nicholas Urfe
Fri, Jul 26, 2013 : 1:13 p.m.
@B2Pilot: yes, look google in A2. They got a small tax break for every employee they hired downtown, and no more. You imply they received benefits they were not entitled to, and that is a lie. You also imply that google received public cash via a bond or otherwise, also a lie. Thank wallstreet and the big banks for the economy tanking in 2008 and google not adding as many advertising sales employees as they had planned.
B2Pilot
Fri, Jul 26, 2013 : 12:20 p.m.
Mississippi is floating a 31 million dollar bond for the expansion. Your saying Michigan should of done the same? I say NO, we've seen that come back to bite us. Look at Google in A2 Ford just announced they are adding 3000 white collar jobs almost all of them in Michigan with no state incentives. So yes Great Job Gov.