Detroit Snags $148 million Metals Research institute Over Canton

A $148 million institute for metals research is making its way to Detroit after Canton lost in the bid for the project.

Canton officials were hoping that the institute would bring more restaurants, hotels, shopping centers and residents but project officials chose Detroit to house the new metal research institute.

Officials left the news on township supervisor Phil LaJoy’s answering machine Tuesday evening, officials had chosen Detroit’s Corktown area for the institute, reports the Observer & Eccentric.

“It’s disappointing to say the least,” township supervisor Phil LaJoy said.

Officials from the American Lightweight Metals Manufacturing Innovation Institute were interested in locating the facility near Haggerty and Michigan Avenue, but that site fell through.

They also looked at a property on Haggerty, north of Warren.

“We did everything within our power to get them to go into that facility (near Haggerty and Warren),” LaJoy said.  

Project officials believe the institute will create as many as 10,000 jobs in the Midwest.

Universities, nonprofits and over 50 companies are involved with this project including the University of Michigan.

The federal government will invest $70 million over five years, and other partners will donate $78 million.