Auto-Owners To Expand its Technology Center Operations in West Michigan.

Auto-Owners announced that it plans to invest $897,900 and create 60 new IT jobs at its facility in Grand Rapids. The company, which operates in 25 states, cited the location’s proximity to its Lansing-area headquarters and the availability of technology talent as the drivers of the expansion.

Auto-Owners Insurance worked with Grand Rapids-based economic development firm The Right Place Inc. and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) to facilitate the expansion.

The MEDC will support the Auto-Owners Insurance expansion with a $315,000 performance-based Michigan Business Development Program grant.

“Auto-Owners Insurance has grown tremendously in the past year and we expect that upward trend to continue for several years, so it’s imperative that our Grand Rapids technology center grow with the demand. Our partnership with The Right Place is a key component of our ability to expand our footprint at our Grand Rapids location and draw on the area’s tech talent” – Jim Schumacher, senior vice president for IT at Auto-Owners.

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