Chris Swanson, the sheriff of Genesee County, said that large automaker investments supported by Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) tax credits deliver union jobs and broader economic gains for Michigan communities. The statement was made in an interview on April 13.
“Large investments by GM, Ford and Stellantis benefit Michigan families,” said Swanson. “Not only by providing good paying union jobs, but all the other economic benefits that come with it. Workers buy homes, they shop, they entertain and their kids go to our schools. We are in favour of the tax credits.”
MEGA tax credits are designed to incentivize large-scale investments by corporations in Michigan, particularly in the automotive sector. According to Crain’s Detroit Business, these credits refund a portion of income taxes paid by employees if companies meet job creation or retention thresholds. Automakers like General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis have received billions in MEGA incentives to retain operations in Michigan. The policy aims to anchor high-wage jobs and capital investment, especially as the industry transitions to electric vehicles.
Data from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation cited by Crain’s Detroit Business shows that as of 2023, over 113,000 jobs were tied to 12 active MEGA agreements involving major automakers. Ford’s planned BlueOval Battery Park in Marshall, Michigan, supported by MEGA incentives, is expected to create at least 2,500 jobs. General Motors committed $7 billion in new investments tied to an estimated 4,000 new and retained jobs across multiple sites. Stellantis has also benefited from MEGA deals linked to electric vehicle production expansions.
General Motors has announced plans to invest $491 million into its Fort Wayne Assembly plant in Indiana to support the production of next-generation internal combustion engine full-size light-duty trucks. This investment is expected to retain approximately 1,000 jobs at the facility. The Fort Wayne Assembly plant currently employs more than 4,000 people and plays a crucial role in GM’s truck manufacturing operations, according to Clean Technica.
Swanson is the Sheriff of Genesee County with a law enforcement career spanning over three decades. He has held various roles including positions in corrections, patrol, narcotics, and criminal investigations. In 2019, he founded the Genesee Human Oppression Strike Team (G.H.O.S.T.) to combat human trafficking and launched the I.G.N.I.T.E. program in 2020 to provide educational opportunities for inmates. In February 2025, Swanson announced his candidacy for Governor of Michigan as a Democrat focusing on issues like public safety and community engagement.
