Zeeland, Michigan-based Gentex Corp. announced today that it plans to open a satellite production facility that will bring 50 new jobs to the Madison Square neighborhood of Grand Rapids, Michigan. By expanding its manufacturing footprint, Gentex says it hopes to boost its employee base and provide greater access to well-paying jobs as it continues to implement meaningful solutions to address the ongoing labor shortage.
Gentex is a technology company and long-time supplier of electro-optical products for the global automotive, aerospace and fire protection industries. The company is Ottawa County’s largest employer, with more than 5,500 team members working at its manufacturing campus in Zeeland and nearby lakeshore facilities.
“Rising transportation costs make commuting increasingly difficult, so if Gentex wants to recruit employees from Grand Rapids, we need to be here,” said Gentex President and CEO Steve Downing. “And by locating a satellite plant and creating jobs in a neighborhood near city center, our goal is to strengthen not only Gentex, but also the surrounding community, and we look forward to future opportunities to do so.”
The decision to locate in the Madison Square neighborhood came after months of working alongside Amplify GR, a local non-profit that works in partnership to bring together neighbors, businesses, and local organizations to help strengthen neighborhoods.
Over the past couple years, Gentex has been systematically addressing some of the region’s largest barriers to employment. In 2021, the company launched Spanish-speaking assembly lines to provide expanded employment opportunities for West Michigan’s growing Hispanic community. Today, nearly 190 Spanish-speaking employees work on various production lines throughout the company.
In November, Gentex announced plans to open a first-of-its-kind childcare and preschool designed to provide its employees with access to quality, affordable, on-site daycare. The facility, which is scheduled to break ground this spring, will be located on Gentex’s Zeeland campus. It’s being designed to accommodate the children of both first and second shift workers, with a capacity target of up to 250 children per shift.
Gentex’s Grand Rapids facility is currently undergoing renovations, with production slated to begin in late May. The facility will produce sub-assembly components for Gentex’s popular HomeLink product, which consists of vehicle-integrated buttons for operating garage doors and other home automation devices. When fully operational, the facility will operate two shifts and employ 50 team members engaged in light assembly, warehousing, and logistics.
In early spring, Gentex plans to conduct a series of job fairs and community events designed to introduce the company to the surrounding neighborhood. Those interested in employment at the Cottage Grove facility can learn more at www.gentex.com/GR.
