Competitive Advantages

At the historic Owosso Speedway, drivers have been testing their mettle since 1932, and today new state-of-the-art resurfacing has resulted in record-breaking speeds and performance. And in Shiawassee County, with its heritage of continuous improvement, businesses are also discovering an environment that promotes faster speed to market, faster ROI and higher performance. Businesses here compete and win with assets including:

A central location that brings the world to you.

At the edge of Michigan’s “thumb” region, Shiawassee sits halfway between Lansing and Flint and less than 100 miles from both Detroit and Canada, thus yielding low-cost, low-stress access to four major metro areas and to Michigan’s highest-value educational, research and training resources including three R1 universities. In a state with the nation’s highest concentration of OEMs, Shiawassee County means transformative access.

Logistics that drive faster delivery and access.

Multi-modal logistics include interstate, Class I rail and air, allowing industry to ship via:

  • I-69 Corridor bisecting the County, providing fast access to domestic and global markets to the south and north, with three state highways also in the county and I-75 nearby.
  • CN Class I rail and Class II service through Great Lakes Central and Huron & Eastern Railway.
  • Four international airports, with cargo shipping through Federal Express at Bishop International Airport and UPS at Capital Region Airport, where Port Lansing provides a U.S. Port of Entry.

A low-cost, low-union, pro-business environment.

Michigan has steadily risen in business rankings as the state has downsized taxes and regulations, and here in Shiawassee County business and industry thrive, supported by even lower costs and low union activity.

Labor that drives higher productivity.

In a manufacturing-intensive state, tap into the experience and expertise you need, with a labor pool of 1.5 million+ within 50 miles and a talent pipeline fed by leading community colleges and ground-breaking universities.

Assets for team attraction and retention.

Overall costs of living 12% below the national average, with housing costs just 44.9% of the national average, assure Shiawassee residents more room in their budgets. Access to good schools and healthcare, welcoming communities, inviting outdoor recreation across city and state parks and the Shiawassee River, all keep engagement high.