Vice President Scott Viciana said Ventower’s new $25 million, 115,000-square-foot headquarters, at the Port of Monroe, is nearly completed. The company has hired about 20 employees who are expected to start work in late August, and hopes to hire about 20 more by the year’s end.
“We’re ecstatic about getting going,” said Mr. Viciana, who said the company plans to eventually hire up to 150 workers.
Various dignitaries, including Michigan Democratic Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow and U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D., Dearborn), are expected to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday at Ventower’s facility.
Dan Swallow, Monroe’s director of economic and community development, said the community is excited about clean-energy jobs coming to the area.
“This is obviously a huge boost for the local employment market, and we hope to see that reflected in terms of local economic growth,” Mr. Swallow said.
Ventower, founded in 2008, will make wind turbine towers that stand nearly 330 feet tall. The company eventually plans to manufacture about 250 towers per year and run three production shifts. Though he declined to provide details, Mr. Viciana said the firm has customers lined up for its towers.
The company has spent the last three years gathering public and private financing, as well as state, local and federal incentives, to put the company in motion, Mr. Viciana said. Ventower received a $2.3 million grant and $1.2 million loan last year from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and also received a $16.5 million incentive package that included loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Ventower began construction last summer on its factory and was to have completed development by the end of 2010, with production beginning early this year. Mr. Viciana said last winter’s harsh weather delayed the project.
Ventower job openings and applications can be found at ventower.com.
Contact Sheena Harrison at: sharrison@theblade.com or 419-724-6103.