MIDLAND -- A new Midland plastics company called Styron is awarded millions of dollars in tax credit incentives from the state of Michigan. It will help keep and create new jobs.
Creating smaller, faster, and more lightweight plastic is big business, both in Michigan, and around the world, and now Styron has the financial incentive to expand their business and their staff with it.
Plastic; it’s everywhere you look, in your car, on your cell phone, even under your carpet.
Now one of the companies who makes it, is putting its North American headquarters in Midland.
"And we are really excited about that," said Catherine Maxey, the Vice President of Public Affairs.
Styron, a spin off of DOW Chemical Company, just opened for business about a month ago. It employs about 180 people, but that number is expected to grow.
"And we're hiring right now, we have job openings on our web site, people are applying and we're growing," said Maxey.
Creating new jobs in Mid-Michigan is what the Michigan Economic Development Corporation is looking for.
That’s why this week Styron was approved for a four million dollar state tax credit.
"The state of Michigan is working very hard to become more business friendly, and to retain business jobs, and to create an environment where companies can thrive and grow," said Maxey.
On top of the tax credit, Styron plans on investing 13 million of their own money to upgrade labs, plant sites and to put all their Michigan employees under one roof in downtown Midland.
Styron wants to spread their prosperity to the local community, that's why they've leased 8,400 feet of office space in downtown Midland, so that employees can eat and shop here.
"Because as a new company, we are creating a new culture and identity, we really want to bring people together so that they can be excited about where they are going," said Maxey.
Styron says they're going to keep Midland their largest location in the U.S.
Styron employees will begin moving into their new office space in downtown Midland within the next few months.
Styron is worth nearly four billion dollars and employs about 1,900 people across the globe.
