State Rep. Ken Yonker flatly told the 
Leighton Township Board Thursday evening that Leighton will continue to grow if the State Legislature can work out an agreement to bring the Switch data company into the former Steelcase pyramid in neighboring Gaines Township.
The Michigan House this week has been locked in debate over proposed tax breaks to attract Switch into the facility and make a major investment into the West Michigan economy. He said the company, now doing business in Nevada, has promised to bring at least 1,000 good-paying tech jobs.
Yonker said that means Leighton, which is immediately south of the pyramid, will experience tremendous residential growth, with the only downsi
de being the loss of its rural character to suburban sprawl. This news interesting to the fastest-growing township in Allegan County over the last five years, in terms of population.
Supervisor Steve Deer reported that over the last 11 months Leighton has issued 63 building permits estimated at a value of $11.9 million. No other municipality in Allegan County of nearby has seen such population growth.
Switch has promised to turn the pyramid into a cloud data storage facility and invest $5 billion into the project. However, it insists on a waiver of sales, use and property taxes and has indicated that it has other offers, like in the State of New York.
The debate over offering tax breaks to Switch continues to rage in Lansing, with some opposed to corporate welfare, but Yonker very clearly has championed the comany coming to his home district.
The legislator said he has talked extensively with Switch officials, who want to move out of Nevada to a more family-friendly area such as they’ve seen in West Michigan. However, they very likely want to get their best deal.
Some representatives say they oppose creating “carve-outs” and tax policies for a business or industry, calling it “corporate welfare.” Opponents also say the state should not pick winners and losers while other companies in Michigan the same kinds of breaks, resulting in a loss of revenue for the state.
Switch officials have indicated that if Michigan does not make a deal for tax breaks, they’ll begin serious talks with New York.
If the full House approves the bills in the last four session days in December, they will go back for further action in the Senate.
