Purchased and renovated at a cost of $45 million by a local group of investors, “Hangar42 Studios is open now and ready to go,” says Rick Hert, West Michigan Film Office director.

“Fifty men have been working in three shifts to put the finishing touches on the building,” says Grand Rapids-based Hert, who says the studio can house “a feature film and two TV shows simultaneously, year-around.”

Not to mention attracting millions of dollars of new film business to West Michigan, an area covering half the state’s 97,000-square miles.

“Our vision is to establish Hangar42 Studios as the premiere full-service film studio and a go-to partner for film projects of all budgets and sizes,” notes Joe Peters, the local realtor who led development and purchase of the former aircraft plant.

Hangar42’s has converted its space into a variety of sizes to suit a project’s needs.

The studio’s 50,000-sq. ft. of interior space features a state-of-the-art screening room, a 12,000-sq. ft. commissary, and a range of concierge services for location scouting, lodging, couriers, security, “and everything else needed while shooting in Michigan, which will truly make this a one-stop shop for film producers,” says Hert.

Renting the office production and vendor space is proving an easy sell, he notes, not only for the vast resources the studio will provide, but for unprecedented tax breaks tenants will receive.

Because Hangar42 is located in one of Michigan’s 150 Renaissance Zones designed to foster economic development, it is virtually free of state and local taxes for businesses located within their boundaries.

In terms of job creation, the studio expects to have 50-60 administrative positions and 750-1,000 additional jobs in its first three years of operation.

Hangar42 Studios is Michigan’s first fully-financed major film studio to open that utilizes the infrastructure credit as part of the Michigan Film Credit. It’s hailed as a major milestone in the continued development of the state’s booming film industry, which last year set a record of 50 film productions.

The property was purchased from John and Jack Buchanan of Alpinist Endeavors, who owned it since 2006. Jack Buchanan, president of a local commercial real estate firm, played an integral role in putting the project together and serves as an advisor to the studio.

The studio is located in the former Lear Jet plant in the close-by suburb of Walker, “just seven minutes from downtown Grand Rapids,” Hert points out.

It is named in honor of the original structure built in 1942 by the U.S. Government as a WWII aircraft and boat manufacturing facility.

Many of the original 1940s structure and design elements have been preserved, by interior designer Q & A of San Francisco, while high tech and energy efficient systems were integrated to create a versatile state-of-the-art production facility.

A studio manager and an administrative staff are expected to be named shortly.

Rick Hert can be reached at his office, 616/245-2217, ext. 102, or cell, 616/260-2322. E-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

This story first ran in ReelChicago.com.