Organization

Leaders plotting development of SmartZone

Thursday, October 16, 2008
By Chris Gautz
cgautz@citpat.com
-- 768-4926

Fresh off the success of securing a coveted SmartZone designation in Blackman Township, local leaders are wasting no time.

Roadwork plans will begin soon, and the first tenant—an unnamed high-tech company that works for the military—could be named within the month.

``This is only the start,’’ said Dr. Salah Huwais, executive director of the Jackson Citizens for Economic Growth, a grassroots organization that lobbied for the designation.

The 1,100-acre parcel in Blackman Township was one of three SmartZones named by the state Wednesday. This SmartZone is designed to attract, retain and expand businesses focused on alternative energy, life sciences and advanced manufacturing. The other two SmartZones are in Macomb County and Sault Ste. Marie.

Local officials plan to partner with Spring Arbor University, Jackson Community College and Baker College in this endeavor, which they believe could generate dozens of new businesses and thousands of jobs.

Township Supervisor Ray Snell said the Local Development Financing Authority board will meet Friday to lay the groundwork for a new road to be called Technology Drive inside an 80-acre site on County Farm Road, adjacent to TAC Manufacturing. In the next month, it hopes to have a purchase agreement on another 181 acres inside the SmartZone.

The 80-acre site has room for seven new businesses, including the unnamed military company, which Snell said is an existing Jackson County business that needs to expand.

The announcement made Wednesday by Michigan Economic Development Corp. President and CEO James Epolito was met by thunderous applause. Officials have waited seven years for the news, after being passed over for a SmartZone designation in 2001.

``We’ve done a lot of work over the last seven years to get to this point,’’ Snell said.

That included bringing Epolito to Jackson in January to speak at a Jackson Citizens for Economic Growth meeting, where about 175 people gathered to make the point that the community was unified behind the SmartZone idea. Many of the same faces were among the 80 in attendance for Wednesday’s announcement on the 11th floor of One Jackson Square.

``This allows us to attract more business to the community,’’ said Scott Fleming, president and CEO of The Enterprise Group, the county’s economic-development agency. ``That’s what this is all about.’’

The Enterprise Group filed the SmartZone application in June on behalf of Blackman Township.

Many politicians and community leaders stressed the collaborative and bipartisan spirit behind the effort.

``It was one of the most community-oriented projects I’ve ever been involved in,’’ said state Sen. Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, who drafted the bills along with state Rep. Mike Simpson, D-Blackman Township, that allowed the creation of three additional SmartZones.

State Sen. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek said the community now has to take the next step and work to make the area a success.