Copyright WDIV ClickOnDetroit
Michigan has been selected as the site for a multi-billion-dollar OpenAI “Stargate” project, a new advanced technology facility to be built by Oracle and Related Digital, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Thursday. State officials said the project represents the largest one-time investment in Michigan’s history and will create more than 2,500 union construction jobs, more than 450 permanent on-site positions, and about 1,500 additional jobs across the county. The facility is expected to become one of the most advanced AI infrastructure sites in the country, designed for efficient use of land, water, and energy. Officials said the project will operate without requiring new power generation and will use a closed-loop water system that does not draw additional resources from the Great Lakes. More than 700 acres of open space will be preserved for farmland, wetlands, and forest. A Michigan Department of Transportation traffic study rated the project an “A,” indicating minimal effects on local traffic. Related Digital plans to invest an additional $14 million in local initiatives requested by the Saline Township Board, including funding for fire departments, a community investment fund, and a farmland preservation trust. Whitmer said Michigan was selected for the project because of its strong construction and technology workforce, as well as its proximity to the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University, which offer a pipeline of local talent. “Today, we won the largest economic project in Michigan history. “This transformational new Stargate OpenAI facility, built by Oracle and Related Digital, will create 2,500 good-paying union construction jobs, more than 450 permanent high-skill, high-paying jobs on site, and 1,500 more in the community while helping us lead the future of advanced manufacturing and technology. “I’m grateful to these cutting-edge companies for betting on Michigan, building on our work to compete for and win big projects in next-generation industries from cars and clean energy to semiconductors and batteries. “We will continue working together at the state level to win more projects so we can create even more good-paying, local jobs for Michiganders and grow our economy. “This investment from Oracle and Related Digital sends a simple message to anyone who wants to build the future—you can build it in Michigan.” Governor Gretchen Whitmer
