A deep look at Mega Sites in Michigan and your tax dollars

Keeping it Real edition for October 29, 2023

Over the past few years, Michigan taxpayers have been introduced to the idea of corporate mega sites.

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A megasite is a large parcel of land, at least 1,000 acres, that is ready for large-scale industrial development. Certified megasites some say help attract economic development because they can minimize the risks of selecting a site for large plants or facilities requiring massive space and infrastructure.

The following are the locations of Michigan megasites:

1. Mundy Township, Genesee County – The township board is in the preliminary stages of rezoning a huge tract of land (981 acres) for industrial. This land is currently zoned for farmland and residential.

2. Eagle Township, Clinton County – The area (1,492 acres) is south of I-96. Michigan State University owns a portion of the land and is interested in selling to a developer.

3. Marshall Township, Calhoun County – Ford wants to develop 1,900 acres for a battery plant along 2.5 miles of the Kalamazoo River.

4. Vernon/Durand Townships, Shiawassee County – Preliminary funding of $680 million from a federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), passed through from the MEDC, is for planning the development of a mega site.

5. Green Charter Township, Mecosta County – The Chinese subsidiary Gotion, Inc., plans to build a battery component plant. Gotion states its project will be worth $2.36 billion and bring 2,300 good-paying jobs to the region. Other sources state the average pay will be only $45,000. A review by the U.S. Treasury determined the development by Gotion does not violate national security and would not result in control of the company by a foreign government. This conclusion is debatable.

I talked to Marjorie Steele who is a community activist who has been fighting megasites across the site. Watch interview below: