Michigan SOAR Program Delivers First Jobs After Years of Empty Promises

Michigan's First Large-Scale Subsidy Program Finally Produces Employment

LANSING — Michigan's controversial $2.4 billion corporate subsidy program has finally delivered its first results: jobs.

Reports from the state show that 1,846 jobs were created in 2025 among companies awarded a collective $1.74 billion in large taxpayer subsidies through the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) Fund.

The new hiring represents the first employment activity under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's flagship corporate incentive program since it launched in 2022, but the results fall far short of original promises. Companies awarded SOAR subsidies had committed to create or retain a total of 19,599 jobs over several years.

The 1,846 jobs represent less than 13 percent of the promised total.

But the results mark a turning point for Michigan's embattled subsidy program, which has faced intense scrutiny from lawmakers and critics who questioned whether billions in taxpayer money were being spent effectively.

"Large checks are not necessarily going to fix everything," said State Rep. Jasper Martus, D-Flushing, noting how views on economic development policy have shifted.

The Numbers Behind the Promise

The state has awarded companies a combined $1.86 billion through SOAR, including direct cash payments and related site improvements. Officials report spending $1 billion of that total.

Another $660 million went to economic development groups for site readiness without being tied to specific companies. This includes $259 million allocated to create a speculative megasite near Flint.

Companies promised $18.7 billion in corporate investments in Michigan when the program launched. That figure was later reduced to $10.7 billion after several companies changed their plans.

The cost to the state is substantial: hiring to date reflects a cost of about $795,000 per new job based on still-active job-creation incentive awards. If all promised jobs from active projects materialize, that cost would drop to approximately $160,000 per new job.

Success Story: Corning in Saginaw

The program's only clear success so far comes in Saginaw County's Richland Township, where Corning subsidiary Solar Technology LLC is building a 1-million-square-foot factory near Hemlock Semiconductor.

The firm received a $68 million award through SOAR, plus an additional $29 million for utility upgrades to support its solar energy component factory.

Solar Technology was expected to create 1,151 new jobs. So far, it has added 1,244 — about 100 more than promised — at an average pay of $55,223.

A company spokesperson told Bridge Michigan that the SOAR grant helped the firm hire ahead of schedule. Rob Grose, Township Manager, described the work as a "long haul" of at least three years but added that results show "it's been a great asset to the community."

Other Notable Results

Dow Inc. also retained 5,028 jobs, staying on pace to maintain at least 5,000 jobs in Michigan through 2032 in exchange for a $120 million grant to modernize two Midland-area facilities.

Including Dow's retention, companies awarded SOAR subsidies have promised to create or retain a total of 19,599 jobs. The new hiring brings the total year-to-date to 6,874 new or retained jobs.

Ford Motor Co. did not pursue its first SOAR award, which was made partly to support electrification upgrades across several factories. Ford also put its $3.5 billion battery factory in Marshall on hold before downsizing.

The company now expects a $2.5 billion investment and 1,700 hires at the facility. Its SOAR awards were reduced by about $70 million to $326.3 million.

Last year's hiring counted 146 new workers at the Ford BlueOval Michigan factory, where the automaker now plans to use some of the new EV battery capacity to produce energy storage systems. Most of the hires are administrative positions.

Defunding Despite Results

The new hiring didn't stop lawmakers from defunding SOAR for the current budget year. Republicans and some Democrats have scrutinized taxpayer subsidies after years of questioning whether the billions spent are worth the results.

MEDC spokesperson Danielle Emerson counters that the scale of the investment reflects the scope of the massive SOAR projects. She said hiring was always expected to take years.

"We have every confidence it will continue to happen," Emerson told Bridge Michigan. "These are good-paying jobs with important economic impacts to the communities they are in."

Program Evolution and Challenges

Since the SOAR awards launched in January 2022, many deals changed as the incentive program evolved in a volatile business and federal policy climate.

Electric vehicles were much of the original focus, but automaker shifts in production plans slowed progress. The program has had to adapt to changing market conditions and federal policy under the Trump administration.

The average pay reported by Ford ranges from security guard positions to several manufacturing engineers at the factory on 500 acres, which is expected to open this year. Hiring continues at the facility.

What Comes Next

The data Bridge Michigan gathered tallied SOAR results from years of MEDC reports, with the most recent coming in March and reflecting the latest available data. The report also uses documents received through Michigan's Freedom of Information Act.

The state continues to make investments through the program despite political headwinds and reduced federal support. Whether SOAR will deliver the promised 19,599 jobs remains uncertain, but the first 1,846 jobs represent the program's first concrete results after years of controversy and empty promises.