German companies consider West Michigan for alternative energy manufacturing expansions

German companies looking to expand operations to the United States recently discovered that West Michigan manufacturers offer some attractive opportunities, including a skilled workforce. A West Michigan economic development leader laid out the case regarding the region's expertise to some 700 attendees at a first-ever German-American Energy Conference.

According to excerpts from the story:

Never one to dwell on the negative, Birgit Klohs came home this week from a nearly three-week business trip to Germany in a particularly enthusiastic state. During her travels, the CEO of The Right Place Inc. in Grand Rapids made 23 visits to potential business prospects for West Michigan and participated in a four-day alternative energy conference in Berlin, where she gave an address on what Michigan has to offer the industry.

The Right Place, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and Consumers Energy Co. staffed a booth at the conference. As German wind-energy companies seek to expand beyond Europe and set up shop in America, she used the first-ever German-American Energy Conference to pitch Michigan and the state's manufacturing acumen.

Read the complete story here.

 

 

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