Senate quickly OKs incentives after Ford expands in South

LANSING » The Michigan Senate on Thursday quickly endorsed bills that would boost job-creation and expansion incentives offered to businesses, amid efforts to land unspecified major projects in the auto industry as it shifts to greener technology.

The 27-10 votes came a day after the House approved identical legislation. Final action will not occur until next week due to legislative rules and because lawmakers are discussing how much funding to put into the newly proposed Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve Fund.

The measures, backed by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as a “once-in-alifetime opportunity to expand our economic development toolkit,” could give legislators more involvement in deals. That is because they would control when money is transferred from the account into new site readiness and critical industry funds, from which the state’s economic development board could disburse incentives to companies.

The fast-tracked measures came less than three months after Dearbornbased automaker Ford announced plans to build three electric-vehicle battery factories and an auto assembly plant in Kentucky and Tennessee, creating an estimated 10,800 jobs.

Sen. Curt VanderWall, a Ludington Republican sponsoring one of the bills, said Detroit-based General Motors is eyeing some expansions.

The legislation “allows us to negotiate and make sure that we take care of Michigan businesses ... the ones that we want to keep here and not leave our area,” he said. “It’s extremely important right now that we give Michigan the tools to be able to compete for those jobs and those businesses.”