[DetroitSky]

Subaru to invest $48 million in new technical center in Van Buren Township

Japanese automaker Subaru plans to invest $48.2 million in a new technical center in Van Buren Township.

Subaru Research and Development Inc., a subsidiary of its Ann Arbor-based North America Subaru Inc., will build a 60,000-square-foot center on 76 acres of vacant land near I-94 and Willow Run Airport in the Detroit Regional Aerotropolis development zone. With plans to hire 101 new employees, the project is expected to be completed by 2022.

The state of Michigan is supporting the expansion with a $1.5 million performance-based grant and the site is being considered for road improvements, wetland mitigation and environmental remediation. The township is also considering a property tax abatement for the project.

Subaru employs 33 in Michigan and its parent employs more than 14,000 globally.

U.S. Steel to use $55 million state bonds for improvements at Ecorse, River Rouge plants

The state of Michigan will issue a $55 million bond to U.S. Steel Corp. so the steelmaker can improve its solid waste disposal at its Ecorse and River Rouge plants.

Morgan Stanley will underwrite the bonds, which will be used to install facilities improvements, including limitation dust catchers, skimming operations, pellet screening and desulphurization equipment and a $20 million blast furnace scrubber.

KPIT to invest $2.8 million in Novi, add 171 jobs

Indian conglomerate KPIT Technologies Ltd. plans to expand its U.S. presence in Novi by investing $2.8 million into its Novi office and hire 171 new employees.

The majority of the new hires will be programmers and computer engineers.

KPIT subsidiary, KPIT Infosytems Inc., will receive a $1.1 million performance-based grant from the state of Michigan to support its growth, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. said in a memo.

The engineering and research firm, which specializes in automotive in the region, will add to its already 280 employees until it reaches capacity at its Novi office at 28001 Cabot Drive near 12 Mile Road and M-5. After it fills that office, the company will lease a larger office in close proximity, the MEDC memo said.