An Ann Arbor, Mich.-based company focused on turning pollution into profitable byproducts is planning a $60 million plant in Livonia, Mich., that would create 150 full-time jobs.
Quad City Innovations LLC received approval Sept. 24 from the Michigan Strategic Fund board for $60 million in private activity bond financing to fund the project.
Under the subsidiary QCI Fuels – MI Plant 1 LLC, the company intends to build a plant in suburban Detroit capable of processing more than 100,000 tons of plastic waste annually, according to a Michigan Economic Development Corp. memo to the MSF. Six processing systems, powered by proprietary QCI-PCF technology, would be engineered and installed at the plant.
Work on the facility is expected to start in December and be completed by December 2021. The company purchased the Livonia building and installed one processing system already.
The systems "re-mine the valuable molecules from all plastic waste streams … for recirculation back into manufacturing, transportation and many other industries," the document said. The company says its goal is to reverse plastic pollution in landfills and waterways while capturing valuable hydrocarbon molecules.
The plant currently has two employees. QCI employs 23 administrative staff, scientists and engineers. The company was created in 2009 by Dean Rose and Chris Cuvar, according to its website.
QCI is the umbrella for three companies — QCI-TCF, QCI-PCF and QCI-MSW — that convert solid waste, plastic waste and scrap tires into valuable byproducts with virtually clean emissions, its website says.
The state's bond issuance fee for the project is expected to be $87,500. Minneapolis-based financial services firm Piper Jaffray & Co. has "indicated interest in providing underwriting services" for the bond issue, the MEDC memo said.
The company has not yet responded to requests for more information.