According to the Michigan Economic Development Corp, the controversial Gotion battery plant project is dead and will no longer receive previously promised state funding.
Following years of controversy, lawsuits and delays, Michigan officials announced on Oct. 23 that the company was in default on its agreement with the state.
The state of Michigan had pledged $175 million toward the project and granted the company 270 acres in Green Charter Township, adjacent to the Big Rapids area.
The project was estimated to create 2,350 jobs in the Mecosta County area, which in 2022 was reported to have one of the highest poverty rates across the state at 20%.
Gotion’s history in Big Rapids has been riddled with contention from the beginning.
When the project was first announced, protests took place in the area, particularly focused on the environmental impact the battery plant would have on the surrounding area and the company’s ties to China.
In early 2023, Big Rapids witnessed protests against the factory being built in the area, with public outcry regarding the factory’s potential negative consequences on the surrounding environment.
In early 2025, the Mecosta County Board of Commissioners rescinded support for the project, following a lawsuit from Gotion against the board in which the company claimed that the election put the company and the project at a disadvantage.
Ferris was dragged into the controversy of the plant when a rumor spread about Ferris possibly housing Chinese immigrant workers intended to run the factory.
In March of 2023, President Pink released a video in which he stated that Ferris would not be housing Gotion workers and cautioned the community to be wary of rumors and falsehoods.
Following the incident, Pink signed a non-disclosure agreement, which potentially limited his ability to speak about the project to the public.
This is the second large project to meet a dead end in Michigan, with the $63 billion semiconductor plant project set to happen in Genesee County falling through in July.
The state of Michigan sent an updated letter detailing the default to the company on Sept. 17.
On Oct. 15, Gotion replied to the state’s letter and reported being “shocked” by the default and sought a 6-month extension through the state.
Ultimately, the company was denied the opportunity for another extension.
Gotion’s attorney Mark Heusel expressed surprise at the decision made by the state in a statement released shortly after the default was announced.
“It is even more surprising that the state of Michigan suggests that Gotion has ‘abandoned’ the project considering the immense challenges that Gotion has experienced in Michigan,” Heusel said.
While meant to bring jobs to the area, the plant also had the appeal of potential opportunities for Ferris grads.
Now, with the plant no longer set to be built, those opportunities have fallen by the wayside as well.
With regard to the newest Gotion development, President Pink has stated that Ferris will continue preparing students for the future in whatever way it can.
“Our focus at Ferris State is, and has always been, on preparing students for the careers of today and tomorrow,” Pink said. “That has been our unwavering mission for more than 140 years. We now look forward to working with our community leaders on their plans to grow economic development in this region.”
With the potential opportunity for post-grad jobs and on-hands learning opportunities, students are missing out on the ability to gain unique experience at college.
Marketing junior Karyme Barcenaf expressed disappointment over students in engineering losing out on potential community jobs.
“I think that is a lot of opportunities that have been lost and for Ferris to be somewhat associated with it and now students won’t have a chance to possibly work there, that kind of sucks,” Barcenaf said. “It is like someone took the rug out from under you. If there was that controversy of it being good or bad maybe it is a good thing that it isn’t going to be there, but there is still all of those opportunities that are being missed.”
Further update on what will happen with the plant is still forthcoming, but letters from the state have expressed that the deal is shut down for the time being.
Pre-pharmacy freshman Rachel Laws stated that while she is new to the area and does not know much about the factory, the loss of potential jobs in the area is saddening.
“I think that’s terrible, especially if that is what people are interesting and that’s what you’re studying for, that’s now being taken away,” Laws said. “I wish there could have been a middle ground with it. I can definitely see both sides of the argument, but I wish it would not have been taken away.”
Gotion has not yet made another statement besides the Oct. 15 response to the state’s letter.
The future of the plant remains in the air at the time of this article.