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News

1,200 jobs coming to Warren

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This artist's rendering depicts the TACOM "Administration Building," = which=20 will be eight stories high.

Thursday, March 26, 2009 6:20 AM EDT

By Jameson Cook, Macomb Daily Staff Writer

Amid the dreary economic news of these times comes a ray of sunshine = in the=20 form of 1,200 permanent jobs and 200 temporary jobs arriving in Warren = over the=20 next two years.

Construction will begin soon on a $69 million = project =E2=80=94 a=20 230,000-square-foot building and 584,000-square-foot parking deck at the = U.S.=20 Army's Detroit Arsenal for Tank Automotive and Armaments Command off = Mound Road.=20 The project, to be overseen by general contractor Granger Construction = Co. of=20 Lansing, is expected to be completed in spring 2011.

The new = TACOM=20 administration building will be built to accommodate jobs primarily = transferring=20 from the TACOM facility, Rock Island Armory, in Illinois as part of the = Base=20 Realignment and Closure Commission's decision in 2005.

Steve = Cassin,=20 director of planning and economic development for Macomb County, said = the=20 project will bring a much-needed economic boost to the area.

"Anytime you can bring in new jobs and invest in the county is great, = especially these days," Cassin said.

The project enhances the = county's=20 status as the No. 1 location for the development of "ground vehicle = research for=20 the defense industry," said Paul Gieleghem, D-Clinton Township, chairman = of the=20 county Board of Commissioners.

County officials said it also = helps=20 solidify the county's status as the prime area in Michigan and probably = the=20 Midwest for military manufacturing.

"It shows Macomb County is = still the=20 defense capital of Michigan and probably the Midwest," Cassin=20 said.

Two-thirds of the $24 billion awarded to military = contractors in=20 Michigan since 2000 were won by Macomb County businesses, according to = county=20 officials.

The majority of the TACOM jobs will be logisticians, = aka=20 "loggies," and other specialties will include acquisitioning, = engineering,=20 management and finance, according to Don Jarosz, TACOM spokesman. All = but about=20 100 posts will come from Rock Island, while the remaining jobs will be = robotics=20 workers in Alabama and Marine vehicle specialists in = Virginia.

Jarosz=20 said the people who currently fill those posts will be offered the = chance to=20 transfer to the Warren site. Based on past experience, about 20 to 30 = percent of=20 those employees will agree to move, Jarosz said.

"We're ready to = help=20 those workers and families who will be relocating with that command," = Gieleghem=20 said. "We will help get them into good homes and good = schools."

Gieleghem=20 said he is pleased that the county will gain well-paying = jobs.

"There are=20 technical positions, which are on a high pay scale," he = said.

Gieleghem=20 noted the project fits in with Wayne State University's effort to beef = up its=20 programs at MCC's center campus and the south campus in Warren. Among = several=20 degrees through MCC, WSU currently offers degrees in engineering=20 technology.

In addition, Michigan State University in East = Lansing offers=20 a degree in supply-chain management, Gieleghem said.

Construction = is=20 scheduled to start in May.

The area will see an almost immediate = impact=20 of 200 to 400 jobs =E2=80=94 about 200 construction and 200 = white-collar. The 200 TACOM=20 positions will be gradually phased-in over the two years until the = structures=20 are completed and all 1,200 posts become active, Jarosz said.

The = 8-story=20 building on the Detroit Arsenal campus north of 11 Mile Road between Van = Dyke=20 Avenue and Mound is being referred to as the TACOM "administration = building" but=20 could receive formal name later, Jarosz said.

TACOM is a tenant = at=20 Detroit Arsenal and maintains its headquarters there.

The = adjoining=20 1,800-vehicle parking deck was necessary due to limited available space = on the=20 Detroit Arsenal grounds, an area that shrunk after the tank plant closed = years=20 ago, Jarosz said.

The project will inject $25 million to $30 = million in=20 labor expenditures into the area economy, according to Glenn Granger, = president=20 of Granger Construction.

Granger Construction won the "design and = build"=20 contract and will serve as the general contractor, Granger said. It will = subcontract a almost all of the trades work, as about one dozen of his = employees=20 from the company's Lansing office will be on site, he said.

"Most = of the=20 jobs will come from the Macomb County area," Granger said.

He = said=20 Granger Construction, a privately held family business, handles about = $200=20 million to $250 million in projects annually in Michigan and tries to = employ as=20 many workers from the local area as possible.

"The reason we are=20 successful is we draw from the local trades," he said. "The workers have = pride=20 in their work because they'll be living around it for years to = come."

The=20 4-year span between the decision to relocate the installation was due to = Department of Defense priorities, Jarosz said. The funds were released = this=20 year, he said.

"We were waiting for the project to be funded by = the=20 Department of Defense," Jarosz said. "There were a lot of different = projects=20 scheduled for a lot of different installations."

Granger said he = only=20 learned of the company winning the bid about two weeks ago after being = among=20 four finalists who submitted proposals in early December.

BRAC's = decision=20 to transfer the installation to Warren at the time was heralded by local = government and business leaders. Michigan's congressional delegation, = the=20 governor's office and a local lobbying group known as the Community = Action=20 Committee were key in making the case that the BRAC commission accept = the=20 Pentagon plan.

BRAC at the time also agreed with a Pentagon=20 recommendation to close the Army garrison at Selfridge Air National = Guard Base=20 in Harrison Township, eliminating 300 military and civilian = jobs.

Other=20 construction projects at the Detroit Arsenal that resulted from BRAC's = decision=20 was a weapons system support and training facility, which has not = started, and a=20 weapons maintenance and operations center renovation, which has started, = according to Jarosz.

Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no = way do=20 they represent the view of macombdaily.com.

250 wrote on Mar 26, 2009 7:17 AM:

" Our military budget this year is $535 = Billion=20 Dollars not including the $190 Billion this year for the war in the = Middle=20 East.

It=E2=80=99s time to end this flagrant waist of = taxpayer=E2=80=99s money.=20 "

Report Abuse

New Jobs wrote on Mar 26, 2009 9:06 AM:

" It sure would be nice to see some = jobs created=20 to provides goods and services to citizens. I haven't seen that in a = long time.=20 "

Report Abuse

just duck wrote on Mar 26, 2009 9:55 AM:

" tacom jobs,first go through a job = pool nation=20 wide(government)although the construction jobs to build the building = will be=20 mostly local,union guys called back to work,so not really any new jobs = to speak=20 of.and its government,so the customer here is us, the tax payer.i guess = any jobs=20 are better than none. "

Report Abuse

long term wrote on Mar 26, 2009 9:59 AM:

" It's too bad that the jobs will go = away once=20 the structure is completed - It would be nice if the jobs were permanent = -=20

I agree with Duck - any job is better than none.... "

Report Abuse

to 250 wrote on Mar 26, 2009 10:01 AM:

" That is "your buddy" BUSH's war that = has been=20 wasting our money for years and years.... Obama will address that = shortly -=20 after he finishes cleaning up the other mess at AIG/wallstreet that your = buddy=20 left behind "

Report Abuse

Gotta be klidding wrote on Mar 26, 2009 11:24 AM:

" Complaining about jobs coming to = Warren. Right=20 now ANY job openings are good. Snmall business well welcome workers = wether they=20 are temps or not. If the facility was going to be constructed in = Illinois would=20 that make you happier. What a bunch of ingrates. "

Report Abuse

larry wrote on Mar 26, 2009 12:15 PM:

" To the guy complaining about the = money wasted=20 on the war. Here's a news flash. There's still a war being paid for by = the=20 government and it's not leaving any time soon. More taxpayer money has = been used=20 for the so called stimulus plan than both wars. I for one slept better = at night=20 knowing we at least had a president who seen Terrorism for what it is = instead of=20 some Yahoo looking at things through his rose colored glasses and = calling it=20 some other name that sounds nicer. He has no clue and neither do you. = The same=20 with AIG it's your Buddies who approved the bonus money and then spent = their=20 time blaming each other in their own party.That's because thats what = they do=20 best,blame someone else because they have no idea about what's going on. = Every=20 day they show up on tv they just look a little more STUPID. Our governor = too,still blaming Engler,come on,how long can this go on? They had all = the=20 answers while they were campaigning and then turned STUPID on us. I = think=20 they're overwhelmed. It's a proven fact they can't handle money,all they = can do=20 is spend,spend. That's because as we all know,they don't pay their taxes = and=20 think we are dumb when they are STUPID. Got it?????Nancy Polosi is = another one.=20 She thinks it's fine to let the Illegals in,their patriotic for wanting = to come=20 here and work.I shudder at the thought that she thinks this is = acceptable for=20 us. I would say she is the Queen of STUPIDITY and she belongs to your = party.=20 Enough. "

Report Abuse

Thank you GW wrote on Mar 26, 2009 12:55 PM:

" Well said Larry . I too felt safe = when GW Bush=20 was my prez. "

Report Abuse

2 larry wrote on Mar 26, 2009 2:36 PM:

" no, it was not the current president = that=20 handed the money to AIG - it was BUSH - he threw money at the problem = while he=20 was running out the door back to Texas - HE is the one that threw = bailout money=20 to a bunch of irresponsibles with no provisions whatsoever - then ran = like hell=20 - nice spin tho "

Report Abuse

romeo wrote on Mar 26, 2009 2:37 PM:

" there arent any buildings in s.e. = michigan=20 available?

god help us... "

Report Abuse

Obama 64 days wrote on Mar 26, 2009 2:40 PM:

" You have got to be kidding all of us, = if you=20 DARE to blame someone who has been "on the job" for 65 days, for = creating the=20 disaster we are in - PuhLease - I'd love to see how much damage or = repair you=20 could do in a mere 65 days on a new job - who is the "Yahoo"? I'd say = YOU=20 "

Report Abuse

Thank you GW wrote on Mar 26, 2009 2:42 PM:

" For ruining the United States of = America in 8=20 years or less "

Report Abuse

WE SUROUND THEM wrote on Mar 26, 2009 3:19 PM:

" HEY 250 ITS BUSHS WAR BECAUSE CLINTON = DID=20 NOTHING THE FIRST TIME THEY ATTACKED THE WORLD TRADE CENTER EXCEPT CUT = BACK ON=20 THE MILITARY. "

Report Abuse

Dont Raise Taxes In Macomb wrote = on Mar 26, 2009 3:24 PM:

" The people that get relocated will = probrably=20 choose to live in Oakland after they found out the taxes are getting = raised in=20 Macomb "

Report Abuse

Edumacated wrote on Mar 26, 2009 3:36 PM:

" If I've learned anything from Macomb = Daily=20 forums is that no president is ever responsible for thier own = presidency,=20 regardless of party.

Obama is awful? It was Bush's fault. Bush = was awful?=20 It was Clinton's fault. And so on and so on.

Makes me want to be=20 president. I'd change the Presidential Seal to read,
"Don't blame me. = It was=20 the other guy!" "

Report Abuse

250 wrote on Mar 26, 2009 4:58 PM:

" The U.S. Government let 911 = happen.
It was=20 not a plane that slammed into the Pentagon.
I was the first to call = for Bush=20 Impeachment proceedings. "

Report Abuse

Gayle wrote on Mar 26, 2009 7:27 PM:

" Amen Larry!!! What makes everyone = think Obama=20 is the right man for the job. What will they say after 4 years. I think = their=20 opinions will be quite different. "

Report Abuse

WE SUROUND THEM wrote on Mar 26, 2009 8:28 PM:

" HEY 250 WHAT ABOUT WACO AND THE = BOMBING OF THE=20 OKLAHOMA FEDERAL BUILDING I GUESS YOU BLAME THAT ON CLINTON? "

Report Abuse

GET GLASSES wrote on Mar 26, 2009 8:33 PM:

" 250 DID YOU NOT SEE THE TWO PLANES = HIT THE=20 TRADE CENTER IT WAS ON ALL THE NET WORKS.DID YOU DO A LOT OF DRUGS WHEN = YOU WERE=20 YOUNG OR ARE YOU STILL ON THEM. "

Report Abuse

250 wrote on Mar 26, 2009 10:23 PM:

" I don=E2=80=99t do drugs unless you = consider Tylenol a=20 drug.
However the solution to our drug problem;

1)Legalize = marijuana.=20 Same requirements as on liquor and beer (no underage smoking)
2)All = other=20 drugs, on a drug bust confiscate drugs and money, if it=E2=80=99s over 1 = pound owner of=20 home does 1-year prison. If on a drug bust there is a shoot out with = police you=20 are automatically guilty and will do hard time in prison and cops have = the right=20 to shoot to kill.
3)Major campaign on the dangers of hard drugs. =

I=20 admit I know little about drugs however what I do know is drugs = negatively=20 affect many people. And I would rather have kids smoke grass, than pop=20 ecstasy(sp) snort cocaine or shot heroin.

I said the Pentagon = not the=20 World Trade Center "

Report Abuse

Critic wrote on Mar 27, 2009 3:29 AM:

" Yeah, I blame Bush for many things. = Ex: 911=20 prevention (not the cause, but the lack of proper intell and = intervention);=20 hurricane evac. and recovery effort and Iraq war (based solely on false=20 intell.). Additionally, the healthcare of our injured comrades, the = economic=20 meltdown which is I say, a depression, the poor laws governing sending = jobs=20 overseas ---IBM will cut 5000 American jobs with many to go to India = (report=20 from WJR AM). Hmm... the attorneys he had removed in spite of the claim = that=20 they serve at the president's will. However, I will commend him on = intervening=20 on the lady's life a couple of years back - the one who was in a = vegatative=20 state with the husband wanting remove life support while the family = wanted to=20 keep her on it. At least, as he stated, to error on the side of caution. = "

Report Abuse

eye see wrote on Mar 27, 2009 7:12 AM:

" 250 and crew, shut up your politic = (and=20 obviously uneducated) babblings, especially when they have nothing at = all=20 whatsoever to do with the article. Jobs are coming to Warren, that's a = good=20 thing, even if most of them are jobs you're likely not qualified for.=20 "

Report Abuse

250 wrote on Mar 27, 2009 7:35 AM:

" To =E2=80=9Ceye see=E2=80=9D = you=E2=80=99re the one that is blind, you=20 cant see that having the government create military jobs is un-American, = un-democratic and goes against the true Americans position of freedom, = justice,=20 and liberty for all. "

Report Abuse

BE wrote on Mar 27, 2009 10:45 AM:

" You're all amazing politicians...the = article is=20 about employment. "

Report Abuse

larry wrote on Mar 27, 2009 12:54 PM:

" Re:to larry. Yes,Bush did try to help = the=20 ailing AIG,but it was Christopher Dodd and Timothy Geitner who really = pulled the=20 fast one while Bush was already in Texas sir. Dodd wrote the the = language for=20 the Bonuses for the Upper echelon at AIG and Timothy Geitner APPROVED = it. And=20 then they tried to blame each other. Do you not remember any of this of = the last=20 two weeks? No? Maybe your getting sick of turning on the news and = watching the=20 same old cr@p day after day too.Not one thing gets settled before they = are off=20 and running to another idea that one of them comes up with. They could = at least=20 finish something dontcha' think.Worse 65 days of a new president in = office ever=20 in the history of this country.Always talking,just trying to distract = away from=20 the real issues.Stupidity at it's best.Shame on you as an American = citizen for=20 not seeing this for what it really is. Forget about the Party or = Party's,I=20 resent some politician insulting my intelligence,now for you,you make = your own=20 choice. I made my own. "

Report Abuse

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