The Right Place assists software embedded software and electronics engineering firm in expanding West Michigan presence

DornerWorks investing $1.3 million to add 25 high-tech jobs at Grand Rapids headquarters

Regional economic development organization The Right Place, Inc., along with its local and state partners, today announced the approval of a $200,000 Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) high-tech grant for DornerWorks, Ltd. that will bring 25 new high-tech jobs and $1.3 million in new investment to Grand Rapids, Michigan over the next three years.

The company intends to add 25 high-tech positions at its headquarters, 3445 Lake Eastbrook Blvd. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546.

DornerWorks is a premier provider of embedded electronics and software engineering services and solutions providing expertise for the aerospace, defense, medical, automotive, and industrial markets. Founded in 2000, DornerWorks has grown into one of the largest embedded engineering design services firms in the country with AS9100, ISO 13485, and ISO 9001 certifications.

The company has recently won multiple Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants, specifically with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the U.S. Navy. The SBIR program is a highly competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development that has the potential for commercialization. Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR enables small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization. As a result, the company has become one of five Xilinx premier design partners in the western hemisphere.

“We have been asked by several customers to open additional design and development engineering centers close to their locations, but we are dedicated to West Michigan and we wanted to expand here,” said David Dorner, President & CEO of DornerWorks. “The Right Place understood our business and the competitive situation we were in. Thanks to their efforts, along with their partners, we are able to continue growing in Grand Rapids.”

DornerWorks moved into its Lake Eastbrook location in 2008 and soon after began remodeling unfinished space to accommodate staff growth.

“DornerWorks is involved in some of our nation’s most coveted aerospace and defense industry projects, and they employ the best and brightest engineering and electronic talent,” said Eric Icard, Senior Business Development Manager, The Right Place, Inc., and project lead. “Assisting them through an expansion effort at their current location is a big win for Grand Rapids. DornerWorks growth can only help grow our region’s aerospace and defense industries.”

The Michigan Business Development Program is an incentive program available from the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF), in cooperation with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). The program is designed to provide grants, loans or other economic assistance to businesses for highly competitive projects in Michigan that create jobs and/or provide investment.

As part of the Michigan Business Development Program, grants are available to highly competitive high-tech projects that create at least 25 high-tech jobs in Michigan.

With this latest economic development project, The Right Place, working with its local and state partners, has generated $47.2 million in capital investment and assisted in the creation of 358 jobs in West Michigan in 2016.

About The Right Place, Inc.

The Right Place, Inc., is a regional non-profit economic development organization founded in 1985 and supported through investments from the private and public sector. Its mission is to promote economic growth in the areas of quality employment, productivity and technology in West Michigan by developing jobs through leading business retention, expansion and attraction efforts. For more information, visit: www.rightplace.org

About DornerWorks, Ltd.

DornerWorks is a premier provider of embedded electronics, FPGA, and software engineering services and solutions providing expertise for safety-critical aerospace, defense, medical, automotive, and industrial markets. Founded in 2000, DornerWorks has grown into one of the largest embedded engineering design services firms in the country with AS9100, ISO 13485, and ISO 9001 certifications. Let the innovative team at DornerWorks provide solutions for your most demanding projects. For more information, contact us at www.dornerworks.com.

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