Just two days after Evergreen Solar Inc.‘s grand opening of a massive Devens manufacturing facility, the state of Michigan has announced the company’s plans to build a facility there, as well.
Thanks to a generous package of state and local tax credits and abatements, Marlborough-based Evergreen will build a new manufacturing facility in Midland, Mich.
According to Michigan Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm, the $55 million project is part of a statewide economic development program that has at least sparked interest by a number of companies.
The Evergreen plant will produce the “string” used in the solar panel manufacturer’s “string ribbon” technology. Granholm said Evergreen chose Michigan over a competing state. The project is awaiting approval by the state Department of Environmental Quality.
The company plans to employ 101 people at the Midland facility.
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation approved a $1.8 million tax credit to lure Evergreen. The city of Midland also approved a $3.9 million, 12-year tax abatement for the project.
Evergreen opened a new manufacturing facility in Devens in June and held a grand opening earlier this week. The company expects to open a second facility there next year and will employ more than 1,000 people in Massachusetts when it’s done.
Massachusetts provided Evergreen with $44 million in loans, grants and incentives to build in Devens.
