On Friday, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez announced his department's contribution to help build an Advanced Technology and Renewable Energy building in Kettering's new research park - a move that's expected to bring jobs and investment.

"Wow, it is a merry Christmas," said K. Joel Berry, Kettering's fuel cell point man and director of the school's Center for Fuel Cell Systems and Powertrain Integration.

"It's the next evolution of Kettering's fuel cell center, and it provides the first research building in the proposed research and technology park we've been trying to launch for several years now. We are extremely pleased."

The university is moving along with plans to make Delphi Corp. its main tenant in the research lab - a total $2.76-million project to be built on land across from the university - and an anchor for the research park.

The center will manufacture fuel cells and develop fuel cell-related projects. Hydrogen fuel cells convert oxygen and hydrogen into water, producing electricity.

Berry said this has been a two-year effort, with collaborative partners such as the Flint-Genesee Area Growth Alliance, local, state and federal government, Delphi and Next Energy.

Gutierrez estimates the investment will create more than 700 jobs and stimulate $164 million in private investment.

"President Bush and I are committed to partnering with communities to promote innovation and competitiveness," he said in a statement. "Through economic development grants like these, the Commerce Department will continue to encourage investments in local areas, grow the economy and create jobs."

Berry has a much more conservative estimate on the job front, such as 20-30 jobs in the first year of a 20-year project.

"Naturally, I'm ecstatic about the future of Flint and the future of this project," he said. "It's another building block in helping the economic situation of Flint - one of many collaborations between Kettering and other entities.

"(But) it's not the only answer. Other entities in Flint must step up."