Kathy McMahon, director of communications for the MEDC, told GlobeSt.com that it hopes the company will locate 500 employees at one of four sites: Ann Arbor, Oakland County's Automation Alley along I-75, Pinnacle Aeropark under development at Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport or the Campus Martius office project in downtown Detroit.

Covisint has 200 employees in a temporary Southfield, MI-office. Company officials say they are not ready until the fall to make a decision of where to locate, and must wait for a selection of a chief executive officer and the results of a federal antitrust investigation. McMahon says Michigan is competing with Silicon Valley, CA, for the headquarters. "We really went through and made a business case for why they should choose Michigan. We're home to the major Tier 1 automotive businesses, and have 90% of all automotive research and development companies in our state," she says.

No specific dollar amount was offered to the company, but $1 million could be given by the MEDC for worker recruitment, McMahon says. Other perks like free pizza for a year and free state park passes for employees were offered as icing on the cake. The MEDC, a state agency, can offer tax credits and assistance to Covisint.