There’s some encouraging news out of Whirlpool Corporation—a reminder that even amid recent Wall Street concerns, the Benton Harbor-based appliance maker is continuing to invest heavily in its U.S. operations.
The company announced Friday it will invest more than $60 million to establish a new manufacturing facility in Perrysburg, Ohio, creating between 100 and 150 jobs over the next two years.
The new plant will be Whirlpool’s 11th U.S. factory and its sixth in Ohio—a state that has served as the backbone of the company’s domestic manufacturing strategy for decades, particularly following the closure of several Southwest Michigan plants in the 1980s.
Whirlpool is repurposing an existing building in Perrysburg—formerly used for solar panel production—into a modern, technology-driven facility. Once complete, it will produce appliance components and subassemblies for washers and dryers, supporting nearby Ohio operations.
Chairman and CEO Marc Bitzer said the move reflects continued confidence in American manufacturing.
“When there is a level playing field, our American workers can out-compete anyone in the world,” Bitzer said. “This investment is proof of our confidence in that workforce and our determination to win by producing high-quality, innovative products in the U.S.”
The announcement comes during a period when Whirlpool has faced scrutiny from investors and flirted with 52-week lows in its stock price, making the expansion a notable signal of long-term commitment.
It also follows a larger, $300 million investment announced last fall to expand laundry production capacity in Clyde and Marion, Ohio—expected to create 400 to 600 additional jobs.
Kristin Day, Whirlpool’s vice president of U.S. manufacturing, said the new facility will blend automation with skilled labor.
“We are not just building appliances—we are building the future of domestic production for our industry,” Day said. “Our people remain the foundation of our success.”
While this latest investment is centered in Ohio—not Southwest Michigan—it underscores Whirlpool’s broader U.S. manufacturing strategy.
The company says about 80 percent of the major appliances it sells domestically are made in the United States. Over the past decade, Whirlpool has invested roughly $23 billion in U.S. manufacturing, labor and logistics, including more than $6 billion spent with American suppliers last year alone.
The Perrysburg project is expected to move forward pending final approval of state and regional incentives. A formal ribbon-cutting is anticipated later this year.
Bottom line: No new jobs locally, but for a company headquartered in Benton Harbor, this is still a positive sign—continued domestic investment, continued Midwest manufacturing strength, and a signal that Whirlpool is continuing to lean into its U.S. roots for the long haul.
Headline Photo: Whirlpool’s Clyde, OH manufacturing floor
