Holland automation manufacturer’s expansion ‘bringing work to West Michigan’

A Holland-based leading industrial automation and robotics integrator is adding 109 new jobs as a part of a $5 million expansion. 

Mission Design & Automation is building a new 50,000-square-foot manufacturing facility to increase engineering and machine build capacity. The new facility, located at 9696 Black River Court in Holland, is the first expansion for Mission and will house new large-scale automation projects. It will be completed in July.

“Bringing work to West Michigan allows us to continue to support the community through partnerships with local universities and high schools through co-op and apprenticeship programs,” says Ryan Lillibridge, Mission’s director of business development. 

Hiring for various positions

Mission is hiring for various positions, including mechanical engineers, controls engineers, applications engineers, and machine builders. The company designs, builds, and integrates custom flexible automation equipment for manufacturing companies of various industries, including automotive, furniture, consumer goods, and medical devices.

“West Michigan is a hotspot for Industry 4.0. With more than 40% of our region’s GDP coming from manufacturing, the customer base is here, and the significant growth local automation solutions providers are experiencing is proof that area manufacturers are adopting smart manufacturing processes,” says Jennifer Owens, Lakeshore Advantage president. “Jobs of the future, on the cutting edge of manufacturing technology, are available right here at innovative automation companies, including Mission Design & Automation, and their customers who implement these tech solutions,” Owens says.

Lakeshore Advantage, the local economic development organization that assists employers with growth opportunities in Ottawa and Allegan counties, connected the company with state and local resources to support their growth.

Training, grant support

The Michigan Strategic Fund is also supporting this project with an estimated $400,000 grant for job training through their Jobs Ready Michigan program administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. The program is designed to be flexible and responsive to the specific talent needs of companies and to address the costs associated with recruiting and training individuals for occupations that are high-wage, high-skill, or high-demand. 

“Mission Design’s growth reinforces Michigan as the place where manufacturing and technology converge,” says MEDC Chief Business Development Officer and Executive Vice President Josh Hundt. 

West Michigan Works! will also be providing $382,220 in Jobs Training Assistance to support the increase in employment Mission will experience due to their growth.

Holland Township approved the Mission’s expansion in the form of a 12-year Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption at a June 3 meeting. 

“We are grateful for the partnership with the MEDC, Lakeshore Advantage, West Michigan Works!, and Holland Township, who have made this possible, and for what the growth at Mission facilitates for the community, employees, and our customers,” says Scot Lindemann, Mission CEO.

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