EATON COUNTY, MI — The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has awarded a state transportation economic development fund grant that will support 297 new jobs in Eaton County. The Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF) Category A grant totaling $502,443 will help leverage nearly $115 million in private investment.

Auto-Owners Insurance Co., headquartered in Delta Township, is a property and casualty insurer. The company is adding an additional 231,000 square feet of office space and 297 new full-time positions over the next four years at the south campus location.

Auto-Owners' growth has strained the I-496 interchange at Creyts Road and the additional trips generated by their expansion will further impact traffic operations. To increase safety and improve traffic flow, the MDOT University Region will install a new traffic signal at the westbound I-496 ramps at Creyts Road. In addition, MDOT will reconstruct the eastbound I-496 off ramp and extend the turn lanes at Creyts Road.

To improve traffic operations at the company's south campus entrance, the Eaton County Road Commission will widen Creyts Road, adding a center turn lane from approximately 360 feet south of the company's entrance to the eastbound I-496 ramps. This work will help enable Auto-Owners to proceed with their campus expansion.