It has had much success since it started in April 1999, encouraging many companies to stay or build in the state with tax breaks and other incentives. "We're growing, and we want more room to do it," says Jennifer Kopp, a spokeswoman for the MEDC.

About $13 million is being spent by the corporation to purchase, renovate and expand a four-story, 90,000-sf building at Ionia Street and Grand Ave. "One of the key reasons we will do it is to consolidate operations into one facility instead of staff throughout all the floors we are on now, that we share with other firms," Kopp tells GlobeSt.com. "This will put us in one facility, in close proximity to each other, and give us more room to grow."

About 280 employees work for the MEDC now, she says, and the new building should hold up to 350. Employees should be working out of the building by next summer. The corporation is run by a 16-member executive committee of business, government and education leaders, all appointed by Engler.