Michigan has spent $261M on Mundy megasite. Now, the public weighs in

A public town hall on Thursday the impact of the controversial megasite under development near Flint
The event offers a rare chance for the public to ask questions and seek information
A panel of supporters and skeptics will speak, including former US Rep. Dan Kildee and state Senator John Cherry, D-Flint.

It’s the public’s turn Thursday to weigh in on a $261 million megasite in Genesee County that is continuing even after legislators defunded the program that allowed the state to fund the purchase of 1,300 acres.

Thursday, advocates and opponents of the project in Mundy Township will gather for a town hall. The site — located in Mundy Township, southwest of Flint’s Bishop Airport — is contentious for the plans to build on the property containing farms, about 200 homes and a 400-pupil elementary school.

State Sen. John Cherry, D-Flint, called the megasite “the best site in Michigan.”

“You have some who might dislike it,” he told Bridge Michigan, adding that he recognizes public concerns about the environment and communication from officials.

“You also have some who say this is vital for the future.”

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Opponents include Chad Morey, a fourth-generation farmer in Mundy, who told Bridge the process has been too secretive.

“Most people are against it in some way or another,” he said. “They’re not against the idea of advanced manufacturing, but they’re really against the method of how this land has been purchased.”

Here is what to know about the property as community efforts to both extend the megasite and stop it continue.

The project — known as Advanced Manufacturing District of Genesee County — is being assembled without a tenant

The state is helping assemble land for a big-ticket industrial project, but the project has been in question since Sandisk backed out of a deal in July to build a $63 billion semiconductor plant on the property.

The state had promised a $20 billion incentive package, including $6 billion in cash spending that included giving the company the megasite. In turn, by 2045, Sandisk said it expected to employ 7,400 workers and 2,000 contractors in four buildings totaling 13 million square feet.

Mundy megasite town hall

A town hall about a proposed megasite in Mundy Township is planned at 7 p.m. Thursday at Ballenger Field House on the campus of Mott Community College, 1401 E. Court St., Flint.

Speakers will be former US Rep. Dan Kildee, now CEO of the Greater Flint Community Foundation; state Sen. John Cherry, D-Flint, James Hohman of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy and JoAn Mende, an engineer, township resident and a founder of the group advocating No Megasite.

Longtime television reporter Jim Kiertzner will moderate the event. Register here.

Other companies have contacted the local economic developers since, and marketing continues. While officials have wanted one user, they’re now willing to consider other options.

Taxpayers largely funded the megasite.

Megasite developers received $261.25 million in awards from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and its public funding arm, the Michigan Strategic Fund.

Most of that, $194 million, went to the Flint and Genesee Group Foundation as it runs the site assembly and preparation. That includes purchasing and demolishing homes, as well as removing trees and drainage culverts.

Of the costs, land acquisition initially was budgeted at about $27 million when the site was expected to be 1,000 acres.

Another $750,000 was funded by the CS Mott Foundation in mid-2022. (Editor’s note: The Mott Foundation also donates to Bridge Michigan and had no involvement in this article.)

State policy is in upheaval

The Mundy Township site is coming together amid vast disagreement about whether Michigan should continue spending big money on large-scale economic development.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and lawmakers launched the $2 billion Strategic Outreach and Operating Reserve (SOAR) Fund in 2021 for big industrial projects.

A map of the Mundy Township megasite property. — The megasite property, with shaded areas either bought or under contract as of late October. The property is just over 1,300 acres, most in Mundy Township with two northern areas in Flint Township. (From the Flint and Genesee Economic Alliance)

Since then, lawmakers and others grew skeptical about the program and other incentive funding after revelations by Bridge Michigan and others that jobs promised by the projects often fell short of expectations.

In recent weeks, lawmakers defunded the SOAR program and now introduced legislation in the House and Senate to eliminate the MEDC.

“I don’t think that we should be doing megasites in these farm areas anymore,” House Majority Leader Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, said in October. “These communities don’t want it.”

Business boosters back the project

Tyler Rossmaessler, executive director of the economic alliance, said the group “continues to work every day to bring a job-creating project here.”

Large-scale sites are still an important part of the state’s business recruitment strategy, said Danielle Emerson, spokesperson for the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

“We remain proud of the multi-year work that was put into Mundy and all of our large-scale sites, and we’ll continue touting their accomplishments and potential,” she said.

Businesses say the project can be a boon for generations, said Gina Staudacher, a Detroit area attorney, board adviser at the economic alliance and long-time resident. Her family business, Goyette Mechanical, has been in the area for nearly 100 years.

“If we expect companies to come into our area we have to develop a site that permits a long-term investment,” she told Bridge.

A sign that says "No Megasite." — This house on Maple Road on the northern edge of the megasite was set to be demolished in October. The neighbor is against the project. (Jeff Schrier for Bridge Michigan)

Opponents say the process has been divisive

As in other communities where Michigan has invested in megasites, Mundy Township neighbors say they fear a big project will bring traffic and other headaches.

In Mundy Township, 2024 township elections ousted the supervisor who had participated in non-public conversations with economic developers under a signed non-disclosure agreement.

And in the Swartz Creek Community Schools, board meetings imploded this summer over secret negotiations among some board members, the former superintendent and megasite organizers.

Last month, amid an increasing anger, the board declined a $40 million offer to sell Morrish Elementary for the megasite.