Defense contractor finds strength in Macomb County workforce, expands operations.

The Department of Planning and Economic Development is proud to acknowledge General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) as it continues to expand its operations in Macomb County.  The company, a stalwart of Macomb’s business community, recently announced new investment plans and employment opportunities in Shelby Township and Sterling Heights.

GDLS is a subsidiary of the General Dynamics Corporation, a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat vehicles and systems, armaments, and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and mission-critical information systems and technologies.  General Dynamics Corporation employs approximately 83,500 people worldwide and reported 2007 revenues of $27.2 billion.

While its original product was the heavy Abrams main battle tank, today the division designs and produces heavy, medium and light -weight armored combat vehicles. With headquarters in Sterling Heights, GDLS is the world’s leading supplier of tracked and wheeled armored vehicles to the defense industry.  An impressive array of products include the M1A1 and MIA2 Abrams main battle tanks,the Stryker family of eight wheeled combat vehicles, the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle (MRAP), as well as the Marine Corps’ amphibious Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV).

While manufacturing occurs at the company’s Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima, Ohio, the Anniston Army Depot in Alabama, and in London, Ontario, Canada, the Sterling Heights complex houses engineering, customer service and support, material acquisition, finance, and staff support functions. The Sterling Logistics Center is on the same campus and provides training and logistics technical support to customers around the world.  The Future Combat Systems Facility in Sterling Heights is leading the design and development of a family of manned ground vehicles for the U.S. Army’s Future Combat Systems program.  

A leading Macomb County employer, GDLS often flies under the radar but has stealthily met increased demand for its products.  A quick look at press releases at the corporate Web site reveals that in 2008 contracts totaling $640 million have been secured so far this year. 

As a means to meet demand, GDLS will expand its operations in Macomb County.  The Sterling Heights location will add a freestanding 10,000 square foot laboratory to its site.  This nearly $2.6 million investment will create an additional 75 jobs and will allow GDLS to undertake work on planned improvements to the Stryker and MIA2 tank.  In Shelby Township, GDLS will lease 40,000 square feet of industrial space adjacent to its existing 131,000 square foot operation.  The expansion reflects an additional investment of nearly $6 million and is expected to create up to 200 engineering and skilled trades jobs.  The two expansions are also expected to create an additional 200 jobs in the near future, for an overall total investment of $8.6 million to create 475 jobs.

When asked why GDLS chose to expand in Macomb, Peter Keating, vice president for Communications, was quick to respond.  “First and foremost, the talent pool here is rich and deep.  Whether we are looking for engineering professionals to do research and development, accountants and customer service representatives to work with our military customers, or for people in the skilled trades to develop our prototypes, we know that we can find people with the right educational background, specialized skills and integrity in the region.”

Keating goes on to say, “There is always pressure from other locales when an expansion is rumored.  We were pursued by other states but we have a strong history in this area and are confident that our greatest potential for continued growth and success is right here.” 

Keating also cites the cooperative spirit in which economic development staff and officials from Sterling Heights, Shelby Township, the Macomb County Department of Planning & Economic Development and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) worked together to package incentives that made it logical for General Dynamics Land Systems to stay and expand in the area. 

The Department of Planning and Economic Development’s partnership with GDLS is a source of great pride and we appreciate the role that we have been allowed to play in the company’s growth in Michigan and Macomb County. With this most recent expansion, just as during a previous expansion of $7 million that created 325 jobs during 2004, the department provided guidance to GDLS as they negotiated with the state for incentives that helped to secure the investment for Michigan, and staff served to coordinate the necessary participation of the local communities. 

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Defense and Homeland Security, just one among the department’s six Targeted Industries, holds great promise for the new investment and job creation in Macomb County. Thanks to the visibility that a company of General Dynamics’ stature brings to our community, and the quality of the workforce that is so important to their choosing to expand here, we look forward to much success as the “Arsenal of Democracy” for the new economy. If we can help your D&HS related company to expand or locate here, please contact the department’s Economic Development Services Group at 586.469.5285.