LANSING- Gilda Z. Jacobs (D-Huntington Woods) joined her State House colleagues today to announce Michigan Economic Development Corporation grants for projects in Oakland County and Hazel Park that will create over 300 new jobs.

“Bringing new software/technology jobs to Michigan will help us keep our talented workers in the state, and also send a message to other companies that Michigan is the place to locate and has the highly trained workforce to meet your needs,” said Jacobs. “The Hazel Park project is important because it helps improve our communities for the families who live in them now, and for the new families we hope to attract in the future.”

The Oakland County based company Research Into Internet Systems (RIIS), LLC, a software and applications development firm, will receive a High-Technology Employment Tax Credit that will help them expand their headquarters. The project is expected to generate $946,000 in new investment and create 95 new jobs, including 40 directly by the company. Michigan won this expansion project over competing sites in North Carolina and Ohio.

"Because of plans introduced by the Legislature that provides companies with incentives to expand in Michigan, we have been able to bring in hundreds of good-paying jobs to Oakland County," said State Representative Marie Donigan (D-Royal Oak). "Not only do these expanding businesses provide our residents with jobs, but they pump much-needed dollars into our community. This is only the beginning of what the future holds for our community, and I look forward to seeing what interesting developments await us."

"We welcome the good news of the expansion of RIIS, LLC and that they are staying in our State and in our community," said State Representative Vincent Gregory (D-Southfield).

The City of Hazel Park Brownfield Redevelopment Authority had their brownfield work plan approved which will allow them to capture state and local taxes to redevelop vacant land along the Eight Mile corridor in the city. The project will include the construction of a Sav-A-Lot grocery store expected to generate $11.9 million in new investment and create 250 new jobs.

"This is a bright spot in Oakland County in these tough economic times. It is hopeful to see meaningful economic development our community and our state," said State Representative Ellen Cogen Lipton (D-Huntington Woods).

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Senator Gilda Jacobs represents the 14th Senate District, which includes Farmington, Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Lathrup Village, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak Township, Southfield and Southfield Township. She is the Minority Vice Chair of the Campaign & Election Oversight, Families & Human Services and Finance committees. She is a member of the Economic Development & Regulatory Reform and Health Policy committees. She can be reached toll-free in Lansing at 1-888-937-4453.