HOUGHTON, Mich. (WLUC) – Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist (D-Michigan) was in Houghton Wednesday to announce two job expansions and over $10 million in capital investment in the Houghton County area.

“Congratulations to you and your team members,” Gilchrist said to the expansion and investment recipients. “We’re excited for all the things they’re going to build, they’re going to design, they’re going to break and they’re going to fix.”

This funding comes through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). One of the receiving companies is Great Lakes Sound & Vibration in Franklin Township. The company outsources painting, sewing, machining and laser cutting to the area’s community. But that is not all the company produces.

“We design and build the hardware that makes our tanks, trucks, ships and aircraft quiet for U.S defense,” Great Lakes Sound & Vibration CEO Steve Mattson said.

According to Matson, the company’s expansion includes a 26,000-square-foot upgrade to its airpark facility, bringing all manufacturing operations under one roof. This expansion will support existing and future contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as support projects with the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force.

“Approximately 40 jobs on the back of an about $8 million capital investment,” Mattson continued.

Loukus Technologies is also benefiting from an expansion. According to MEDC, that’s expected to generate $1.6 million in capital investment and create 48 new jobs with increased starting salaries. Located in Calumet, the company will be expanding into another building next to its current facility.

“It was like, we’re outgrowing our existing space,” Loukus Technologies President Adam Loukus said. “We were able to expand another 5,000 square feet for a machining facility and built out another 3,000 square feet to add our materials processing side to meet the demands of our customers.”

An alloy development company, some of its products include armament applications and vehicle parts. Some of the company’s customers include national labs and army research labs.

“That’s our edge I think we bring to the table for these labs,” Loukus added. “They can do all the design in-house of the alloys and what they can obtain, but are really saying, ‘Well, who can actually make these for us?’ And we’re that resource for those different entities.”

Both companies say they are looking forward to the support these expansions and jobs will bring to the area.

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