- Dakkota committing to hire Detroiters through Detroit at Work priority list
- Dakkota to purchase 32-acre site of former Kettering and Rose schools to build 600,000-square-foot manufacturing plant
- Proposal to go before city council, seek zoning changes to move forward
Detroit, MI — Mayor Mike Duggan, Andra Rush, CEO and president of Dakkota Integrated Systems, other city officials and community leaders announced a plan to build a $55 million manufacturing facility to supply parts to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). In collaboration with the City of Detroit, Dakkota plans to create 625 jobs at a new 600,000-square-foot plant at the site of the vacant Kettering and Rose schools on Detroit’s east side.
“As soon as we finished the FCA deal, we immediately got to work to bring suppliers to the area. Today, we’re announcing one of the first — thanks to Andra Rush and Dakkota, which will bring hundreds more jobs to the east side,” said Mayor Mike Duggan. “Even better, Dakkota has agreed to give Detroiters first shot at these jobs, and residents can sign up to prepare for these jobs today through Detroit at Work.”
Dakkota has committed to recruit from the Detroit at Work priority application list for Detroiters for jobs at its new plant. Returning citizens also will have an opportunity to participate in the entire job application process, since Dakkota’s job application “bans the box,” deleting the question that asks whether an applicant has been convicted of a felony.
“We’re excited to bring good manufacturing jobs to the east side of Detroit,” said Dakkota Integrated Systems CEO and President Andra Rush. “Our mission is to profitably create jobs and develop top talent, all while exceeding our customers’ expectations. We’re so proud to support FCA, provide employment opportunities in Detroit, and showcase world-class quality auto parts built by hardworking Detroiters. We appreciate the mayor and his team for helping us make this happen. This is a win for all parties.”
The new Dakkota plant will supply parts to various FCA Michigan-based manufacturing facilities, and offer 625 jobs in assembly operations, material handling, quality inspection, skilled trades and logistics.
How Detroiters can get on supplier hiring list:
When Dakkota opens its application process, it will interview first from a list of Detroiters who have registered through Detroit at Work, before engaging the public. For applicants to get on the priority list, they must live in the city of Detroit, meet Dakkota’s job criteria and attend a Detroit at Work Job Readiness Event.
Detroit residents can pre-register now at http://www.detroitatwork.com/dakkota to attend a Job Readiness Event.
Job Readiness Events are being held across the city this summer to ensure Detroit residents meet the minimum qualifications to be hired at the new Dakkota facility and other supplier plants. Detroiters who are unable to meet all requirements at the time of application will be offered assistance through Detroit at Work to help them become eligible when the early application window opens for Detroiters.
Resources and support are available at three Detroit at Work Career Centers:
Samaritan Center, 5555 Conner
SER Metro, 9301 Michigan Avenue
Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers
Dakkota buying DPSCD vacant schools, Kettering “K” preserved
Dakkota will purchase approximately 32 acres of land located on the city’s east side from Detroit Public Schools Community District for $2.6 million. The parcel, former home of Kettering and Rose schools, will be cleared to make way for the new 600,000 square-foot manufacturing facility. Kettering High School has been vacant since 2012. Rose Elementary School closed in 2006.
To honor the history of the schools, Dakkota plans to preserve the giant blue Kettering “K” on its site and move existing park equipment to a new location.
Proposal to seek zoning changes, city council approval.
The project will seek endorsements later this fall, including a zoning change request and City Council approval. The site will need to be rezoned from a residential to manufacturing classification, which will go before the City’s Board of Zoning Appeals and the City Planning Commission. The project’s incentives require City Council approval.
The City and Dakkota also will lead a community engagement process to communicate the impact of the project on surrounding neighborhoods and work with residents to address community concerns.
Construction is expected to begin within 60 days of the closing. The plant is slated to begin operating assembly lines in late 2020.
“This is the first of what we expect to be several new industrial facilities created by FCA’s presence in Detroit,” said Kevin Johnson, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation President and CEO. “We are building a vertical supply chain in Detroit that can satisfy any automotive demand and extending Detroit’s global leadership in the auto and mobility sectors.”
About Dakkota Integrated Systems
A joint venture established in 2001 between majority partner Rush Group LLC and Magna International Inc., Dakkota Integrated Systems, a tier-one automotive supplier based in Michigan, manages complex assembly and sequencing of integrated automotive components for original equipment manufacturers at 14 locations in the U.S. and Canada. Our 2,200 experienced and passionate team members are driven to provide customer excellence through world-class service, quality products and innovative solutions. Our award-winning quality is the result of our commitment to superior customer service. Visit us at Dakkota.com.
Media Contacts:
City of Detroit Contact
Tim Carroll, CarrollT@detroitmi.gov
586-567-0162
Dakkota Contact:
Micki Steele, Micki.Steele@tillmanllc.com
248-587-7922
