Safari Circuits, a subsidiary of Waséyabek, announced today it has acquired the former LaCroix Grand Rapids manufacturing plant. The acquisition reverses a decision by the previous owner to close the plant and lay off all salaried and hourly workers.

Safari is an advanced electronics manufacturer founded in Otsego in 1985. It specializes in the production of printed circuit board assemblies for various companies and industries. It was acquired in 2022 by Waséyabek, the non-gaming economic development company wholly owned by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) Tribe based in southwest Michigan.

The former LaCroix plant is located at 1655 Michigan St. NE. The staff designs and manufactures electronic equipment and industrial (IoT) solutions for clients in the automotive, industrial, construction, aerospace, defense, and healthcare industries.

Safari’s decision to acquire this financially distressed plant was driven by several factors, including the presence of a highly skilled manufacturing staff and an alignment in production work and core customers with Safari’s Otsego operation.

The newly acquired facility will now be called Safari Grand Rapids. Since the completion of the sale in September, Safari management has worked with on-site leadership in Grand Rapids to assess the capabilities of the staff and explore new business development opportunities. In just two months, the Grand Rapids plant has secured significant new customer orders. The company is now planning to invest $750,000 in new equipment and hire more than 20 additional employees to meet the increased customer demand.

“This is terrific news for the Grand Rapids business community,” said Rick Baker, President & CEO of the Grand Rapids Chamber. “When a plant of this size shuts down, it impacts not only their workers, but the companies that do business with them as well. Safari and Waséyabek’s decision to acquire the plant and expand its operations is a wonderful reversal of fortune for the workers and our business community.”

“Six months ago, the announcement that the former owner was planning to shut down the plant and lay off more than 100 employees here in Grand Rapids was concerning,” said Mark Washington, Grand Rapids City Manager. “However, I am now pleased to hear about Safari’s commitment to our city, including its investment, job retention and expansion plans that will benefit the employees.”

This is the second business acquisition by a Waséyabek portfolio company this year. In February, Zip Xpress and Green Transportation announced they had acquired Great Lakes Warehousing in Holland. The acquisition included more than 150 acres of vacant land that could be used for future business development.

Terms of the acquisition were not released.

New findings from the most comprehensive review of economic growth and impact to date involving Tribal Nations in Michigan showed non-gaming business activities have grown rapidly, bringing prosperity to communities throughout the state and greater economic sovereignty to indigenous peoples.

The 2024 Michigan Non-Gaming Tribal Economic Impact Study, a collaborative report on the state of Tribal Business Entities (TBEs), was published online today and shared with the Office of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The findings were produced by aLocal.ai, a Native-owned business that conducts economic impact analysis. The study found that a total of 78 TBEs are now in operation by the 12 federally recognized Tribes in Michigan. They generated a total economic impact of $1.24 billion last year. That total includes direct, indirect, and induced economic effects of Tribal businesses.

A closer look at the data shows the TBEs, on average, have been in operation for 15.3 years, with an average revenue of $10.32 million per entity. Additionally, Michigan Tribes collectively employed 2,819 workers (direct), with an average wage for those employees of $59,971.

“It is incredible when all twelve Native nations participate in such an important research effort to help exercise their economic Sovereignty,” said Eric Trevan, Ph.D., lead researcher and CEO of aLocal.ai. “We are honored to once again lead this research effort and help show the positive impact on Native economies and well as other economies throughout Michigan.”

The report showed that TBEs had total business assets of nearly $1.5 billion and total annual gross revenues of $805 million. Furthermore, those businesses paid nearly $136 million in taxes to the federal and state governments in 2024 alone.

“The economic impact highlighted in this study is both significant and encouraging,” said Tom Durkee, Director of Tribal Business Development at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, which funded the study. “As we look to the future, Tribal business development remains a vital component of our Make It in Michigan economic development strategy. By leveraging unique cultural assets and pursuing strategic economic opportunities, Tribal Nations are well-positioned to diversify their economies, generate sustainable revenue beyond gaming, and create quality jobs that strengthen communities across Michigan.”

Economic independence is essential to the health and well-being of Native Americans. U.S. Census Bureau data published in 2021, and shared in a report by the nonprofit agency Child Trends, showed that poverty rates for American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) populations was 12.4%, which is significantly higher than those for other ethnic populations. Also, the estimated percentage of AIAN children living in poverty in 2021 was 7.4%, more than twice the rate (2.7%) for White non-Hispanic children.