MI: Sustainable Footwear Maker HOLO Footwear Establishing HQ in Grand Rapids, Creating 61 Jobs

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to announce that HOLO Footwear, a manufacturer of sustainable outdoor footwear, is relocating its headquarters from Portland, Oregon to downtown Grand Rapids with support from the Michigan Strategic Fund.

“Today’s investment from HOLO Footwear will create 61 good-paying jobs in West Michigan and help our state’s economy keep putting one foot in front of the other,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “My administration has been focused on growing our economy, creating jobs, and investing in every region of Michigan. HOLO Footwear’s investment in Michigan is possible because of economic development funding authorized by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, or MEDC. Over the last year, we have worked across the aisle in Michigan to empower MEDC to compete for every project and every job, including a $7 billion investment from GM creating 4,000 jobs and a $2 billion investment from ford creating 3,200 jobs. We will continue working in a bipartisan fashion to ensure Michigan’s innovative businesses and hardworking people can thrive.”

HOLO plans to locate in a move-in ready facility in Grand Rapids where it will add machinery and equipment and begin opening e-commerce operations in the region. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $1.5 million and create 61 high-wage jobs, supported by a $250,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. HOLO chose Michigan for its headquarters over competing sites in North Carolina and Oregon. West Michigan was chosen for the project because of its robust outdoor recreation assets, strong talent pool, and attractive business environment.

HOLO Footwear, a minority-owned company founded in 2020 in the Portland, Oregon area, manufactures sustainable outdoor footwear that is accessible to a wide variety of consumers. The company uses recycled material in each shoe with the goal of ensuring its products remain affordable for the average consumer. The company currently sells through retail partners including REI, Nordstrom, and Dick’s Sporting Goods, and plans to launch its own e-commerce operations at its facility in Michigan.