Navico Group, a leading supplier for the marine and RV industries, has announced a significant investment in its Lowell, Michigan, operations. The company will establish two Centers of Excellence in metal fabrication and electrification, enhancing quality, capacity, efficiency, and manufacturing capabilities.
The $32.7 million project, supported by a $480,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant, is set to create 80 jobs. The metal fabrication Center of Excellence will incorporate advanced laser and robotic fabrication technology for the development and production of high-quality marine products under the Attwood brand.
Additionally, a state-of-the-art battery lab and assembly capability will be established, focusing on designing and developing custom power solutions. The lab will enable engineers to test end-to-end battery technologies, contributing to Navico Group’s electrification efforts. This facility will be the second electrification Center of Excellence, complementing the company’s Amsterdam facility.
Navico Group’s Lowell site, the first within the company to achieve zero-waste-to-landfill status, demonstrates its commitment to sustainability. The city of Lowell anticipates approval of a 12-year, 50% tax abatement to support the project.
Michigan’s prominence in the marine market is highlighted, ranking third in boat registrations and boasting an $11.7 billion economic impact on the state’s economy annually, supporting over 45,000 jobs and 1,500 businesses, according to the Michigan Boating Industries Association. Recent federal data indicates Michigan’s robust growth in outdoor recreation-based manufacturing, particularly in boat building, with a 35% increase in value added to GDP from 2019 to 2022. The state also ranked fourth nationally in outdoor manufacturing employment and compensation growth from 2021 to 2022.