Penske Logistics to Build $100 Million Warehouse Distribution Center in Michigan
Penske Logistics will build a $98.5-million, 606,000-square-foot Midwest regional distribution center in Romulus, Mich., creating an estimated 403 new jobs.
The Michigan Strategic Fund, an arm of the state's development effort, on Aug. 22 approved a $2.5-million performance-based grant, meaning that the company must do what it promises before getting the help.
Penske Logistics, a subsidiary of Penske Truck Leasing, is part of the wide-ranging network of auto-related companies founded by racing legend and Detroit civic leader Roger Penske.
The Penske Logistics distribution center — to be built at 15520 Wayne Road — will serve as a warehouse operation for cold and frozen products for a corporate client of the company. The client was not named.
“We’re pleased to be making this investment and bringing new jobs to Michigan,” said Marc Althen, president of Penske Logistics. “The location of the facility was ideal for the needs of our business and we look forward to breaking ground on the project this fall with InSite Real Estate, who is building the warehouse on our behalf.”
The announcement marks the second major project coming to Romulus. Amazon, the giant online retailer, recently announced it will build a major order-fulfillment center there.
Both new investments fall within an area designated as the Aerotropolis, a zone near Detroit Metro and Willow Run airports catering to shipping, transport and logistics operations. Aerotropolis is a seven-community, two-county public-private economic development partnership focused on driving corporate expansion and new investments around the airports.
“This is the second major announcement in the past few months and we’re excited about building on that momentum,” Wayne County Executive Warren Evans said in a statement. “Recent investment from global giants like Penske and Amazon reaffirm Wayne County’s attractiveness to transportation, distribution and logistics companies.”
And state Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D-Taylor) hailed the Michigan Strategic Fund’s decision to authorize financial incentives for Penske Logistics.
"Michigan is in a unique situation to reposition itself as a high-tech corridor of innovation that relies upon a skilled workforce,” Hopgood said. “An immediate financial investment in Penske Logistics will help our state achieve long-term economic stability and provide our community with good-paying jobs.”
Penske Logistics operates more than 360 locations across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. The company offers a range of supply chain solutions, including warehousing and transportation management, lead logistics and freight brokerage.
Penske Truck Leasing, meanwhile, started in 1969 with just three locations in eastern Pennsylvania, but now has a fleet of approximately 250,000 trucks on the roads.
Those trucks include the familiar yellow Penske rental trucks, but also entire fleets operated under various corporate brands such as FedEx.
The company offers full-service truck leasing, contract fleet maintenance, commercial and consumer truck rentals, and used truck sales through a network of approximately 680 service locations and more than 2,300 truck rental locations.
Penske Logistics ranks No. 21 and FedEx ranks No. 2 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest North American for-hire carriers.
