Governor Whitmer Header

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

January 28, 2026 

Contact: [email protected] 

 

*Gov. Whitmer Announces Over 100 New Jobs Coming to Michigan, $44.5 Million Investment Across Two Companies in Midland, St. Clair Counties* 


* "DDP Specialty Electronic Materials US, LLC announces $20 million expansion, 22 new jobs in Midland" 

* "Legacy Port Huron Paper Company, LLC to invest $24.5 million, create 82 new jobs in Port Huron" 

 

*LANSING, Mich. *– Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced business expansion projects in Midland and St. Clair counties. In total, $44.5 million in capital investment will be generated along with the creation of 104 good-paying jobs as a result of these announcements. 

 

“In every corner of our state, people and businesses are choosing Michigan to grow and thrive as small business owners, entrepreneurs, and residents,” said *Governor Whitmer*. “The results speak for themselves. Our population is growing, and we’ve been ranked as a top state for opportunity and doing business. Today’s $44 million investment and creation of 104 good-paying jobs by DDP Specialty Electronic Materials and Legacy Port Huron Paper Company is another win that will position Michigan as a leader in advanced manufacturing for EV materials and food grade packaging. Let’s keep working together to grow our economy and create good-paying jobs across our state.” 

 

“The expansion announcements from these two Michigan-headquartered companies highlight the strength of Michigan’s business climate and the confidence employers have in Michigan as the ideal place to grow,” said *Matt McCauley, SVP of Regional Development, MEDC*. “Our skilled workforce, collaborative partnerships and commitment to growth continue to give companies the confidence to reinvest, expand, and succeed here, creating new opportunities for communities across the state.” 

 

*DDP Specialty Electronic Materials US, LLC*, a subsidiary of *DuPont* [ [link removed] ], has announced their plans to add 6,000 square feet to their existing facility in Midland, Midland County, for a new production process that will provide materials use in the global EV industry. The expansion will add additional truck docks, warehouse space and a five-story manufacturing space. This addition is necessary to limit the impact on current operations by including special technology associated with thermal adhesives to produce batteries within an EV. 

 

“We are sincerely grateful to the State of Michigan and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for their support to DDP Specialty Electronic Materials US, LLC for our expansion project in Midland. This support is invaluable in helping us enhance our operations and contribute to the advancement of Michigan’s automotive industry,” noted *Ron Thompson, DuPont Michigan Operations Site Leader*. “We are committed to utilizing these funds effectively to implement innovative solutions that will not only benefit our company but also positively impact the local economy and workforce. We look forward to our technology making significant strides in the growth of Michigan’s automotive landscape.” 

 

The company’s parent, DuPont de Nemours, Inc., founded in 1802, began as a gunpowder manufacturer near Wilmington, Delaware. The company’s parent is headquartered in Delaware and employs around 12,000 people globally. DDP Specialty Electronic Materials US, LLC, a subsidiary headquartered in Midland, has five locations, Midland (two locations), Hemlock, Auburn Hills and Hillsdale employing roughly 450 Michigan residents. The company is a leading U.S. manufacturer of advanced specialty materials for industrial sectors. 

 

“DuPont/DDP Specialty Electronic Materials US, LLC’s investment reflects a clear understanding of what makes our Midland community distinctive—deep technical expertise, a highly capable workforce, and an ecosystem built to support complex, innovation-driven operations,” said *Nicole Wilson, Vice President of Economic Development, Midland Business Alliance*. “Projects of this scale move forward in places that are prepared, and our role is to ensure companies can navigate that path with clarity and confidence. We’re proud to support DuPont through the incentive process and to help advance an investment that strengthens Midland’s global relevance while delivering long-term value for our community.”   

 

This expansion is anticipated to generate $20 million in capital investment and create at least 22 new jobs with starting wages of $30 per hour plus benefits which is more than $9 above the regional median wage. Support for this investment comes from the Michigan Strategic Fund in a Michigan Business Development Program (MBDP) grant in the amount of $200,000. 

 

The company considered shifting the project to their existing locations in China or Germany for production of the thermal interface materials used to dissipate and improve the transfer of heat. This is a growing market based on increasing automotive production with a focus on lightweight and heat-resistant material. In China, labor costs can be 60-80% lower than in the U.S., making a significant difference in overall production expense. For this reason, the other locations are considered viable options for the project. The company ultimately chose Michigan to remain and expand due to the state’s vast EV ecosystem encompassing all facets from mobility and energy to infrastructure and battery development. 

 

In addition to MSF support, the city of Midland anticipates approval of a real property tax abatement in support of the project. The MEDC also approved a State Education Tax abatement to be used in conjunction with the one locally approved. 

 

*Legacy Port Huron Paper Company* [ [link removed] ], a subsidiary of *BMI Group* [ [link removed] ], has announced their plans to repurpose nearly 400,000 square feet of manufacturing space in Port Huron in St. Clair County. The investment will take place across nine buildings where they will revitalize existing space into warehousing, papermill manufacturing facilities and other industrial uses. 

 

“By combining experienced papermakers and skilled trades professionals from the former Domtar and Dunn mills, two historic speciality Port Huron paper mills, we are putting proven Michigan papermaking talent back to work while positioning Legacy Port Huron Paper for long-term growth into the future,” said *Tim Wight, General Manager of Legacy Port Huron Paper*. 

 

The Company’s parent, BMI Group, is a transformative real estate and infrastructure development company founded in 2004 and headquartered in Ontario. The BMI Group specializes in revitalizing underutilized industrial sites, focusing on former pulp and paper mills, and returning social and economic opportunities to industrial and commercial infrastructure. 

 

“Very pleased and excited to see this project come to fruition - making products in Michigan and placing idle manufacturing back into productive use,” said *State Sen. Dan Lauwers (R-Brockway)*. 

 

The company is expanding to meet the rising market demand for domestically produced sustainable specialty and food grade packaging largely due to the increased packaged food consumption, and rapid growth in the fast food market, which has been fortified with the expansion of delivery services such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub, while displacing single-use plastic. 

 

“The production of quality paper is woven into Port Huron’s history,” said *James R. Freed, City Manager, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Port Huron*. “By putting our skilled tradespeople and craftspeople back to work, we are creating good-paying careers at home and proving to the world that Michigan still knows how to compete. " 

 

The project is anticipated to generate $24.5 million in capital investment and anticipates the creation of at least 82 new jobs with starting wages of $27 per hour plus benefits, which is more than $5 above the regional median wage of $21.58. The Michigan Strategic Fund has offered support in the form of an MBDP performance-based grant in the amount of $1 million. 

 

“The Economic Development Alliance is proud to welcome Legacy Port Huron Paper to our community. This project represents a remarkable collaboration among the EDA, MEDC, the City of Port Huron, and Macomb-St. Clair MichiganWorks,” added *Bruce Seymore II, Vice President, Business Services of the Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County*. “By reopening a historic paper mill, Legacy Port Huron Paper is breathing new life into an industry that has been part of our region for over a century. The creation of high-quality jobs will provide outstanding career opportunities for local residents while strengthening the city’s tax base. This investment is a true win for our community and the state of Michigan.” 

 

The MBDP funds will also help offset the extensive costs associated with the machinery upgrades and facility renovations, positioning the company to become a strong employer in the Port Huron area. The project is located in a designated HUB Zone, thereby placing it in a geographically disadvantaged area. MSF support reinforces the state’s commitment to this sector, fostering goodwill and strengthening the paper manufacturing industry in Port Huron. 

 

"Legacy Paper has been an integral part of the Port Huron and St. Clair County community for decades. As a witness to their proven role in the Blue Water Area, I am pleased to see that they are receiving the recognition they deserve. This grant from the Michigan Business Development Program will bolster local companies, bring jobs back to Port Huron, facilitate key economic growth, and ensure that the people in our community can continue to call this area home. As Legacy Paper works to reach new heights and deepen its engagement with the local area, the company has our full support and best wishes for continued success," added *State Rep. Joseph Pavlov (R-Kimball).*  

 

Those interested in pursuing a career with Legacy Port Huron Paper, please click <*HERE* <[email protected]>.> 

 

*NOTE FROM THE MEDC* 

"Investment and job numbers represent the commitment made by the business to the state of Michigan. Terms will be formalized in a performance-based project agreement, with funds disbursed as milestones are reached, and are subject to amendment or cancellation if the commitments are not met due to risks or uncertainties. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation provides a public annual report on agreements and their status to the state legislature." 

 

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