http://www.enterprisegroup.org en dkelly@enterprisegroup.org Copyright 2010 2010-03-18T10:29:00-05:00 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/681 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/adco-products-will-expand-operations-in-jackson-county-move-will-create-mor/#When:10:29:00Z By Chris Gautz/J. Scott Park Jackson Citizen Patriot March 17, 2010 In the next five years, more than 200 jobs will come to Michigan Center. ADCO Products President Glenn Frommer confirmed Wednesday the company chose to locate its expansion project at its plant here, rather than at an existing site in Evansville, Ind. On Tuesday, the Michigan Economic Growth Authority approved a five-year, $1.2 million tax credit to make the deal happen. Frommer said the company made the decision after receiving approval of the tax credit from the state. Leoni Township has also approved a 12-year tax abatement on the company’s real and personal property, estimated at $557,000 in tax savings over a 15-year span. ADCO Products makes adhesives and sealants used in the automotive and construction industries and plans to make a $17.3 million investment in the photovoltaic panel adhesive market to further establish itself in the solar panel industry. As part of the deal, ADCO will consolidate its operations in Evansville, and employees there were notified of the plans Wednesday. Frommer said the consolidation will take place in a structured way throughout the year and will be completed by year’s end. Some employees in Indiana will be offered jobs here, he said. “We have a lot of very experienced capable people,” Frommer said. The union shop will be hiring locally to fill the rest of the jobs. He said ADCO chose Michigan Center over Evansville, because the area has a very capable workforce and access to young graduates. The work they will be doing in the solar panel market will require both blue and white collar workers, he said. “We see an opportunity to not only manufacture products, but develop new value-added technology,” he said. According to the MEGA, the average weekly wage for the new jobs is expected to be $577, along with health care benefits. The company has 158 employees now. ADCO’s facility in Leoni Township has centered on making products for the automotive, maritime and architectural industries. Frommer said the company is in the process of expanding and changing the footprint of its facility at 4401 Page Ave. to accommodate all the new workers and equipment. For more information, visit www.adcocorp.com.  News 2010-03-18T10:29:00-05:00 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/682 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/jackson-county-board-approves-giving-74-million-in-bonds-to-jackson-public-/#When:10:33:00Z By Holly Klaft Jackson Citizen Patriot March 17, 2010 Jackson Public Schools will be the first to take advantage of low-interest federal bonds available to public entities in Jackson County. The county Board of Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved giving JPS $7.4 million in economic development bonds for planned renovations to school buildings and grounds. The county had $11.5 million available in economic development bonds through the Recovery Zone Bond Program — a part of the federal stimulus plan. Those bonds are intended to help public entities, such as schools or governments, pay for improvement projects. About $17.2 million in tax-exempt Recovery Zone Facility bonds also are available to private businesses for projects that could create jobs. The bonds must be issued by the end of the year. Bill Hannon, deputy superintendent for finance and operations at JPS, said using the low-interest bonds will result in a lower cost to taxpayers, who in November 2009 approved a $16.6 million bond proposal for renovations in the district. JPS is still waiting to hear whether it was awarded as much as $15 million in Qualified School Construction bonds — another federal stimulus program that could reduce the cost to taxpayers, Hannon said. If the district is awarded the $15 million in bonds, it will return the economic development bond money it doesn’t need to the county, he said. The bond money must be paid back once it is used, but the program is a good tool for development, said Scott Fleming, CEO of The Enterprise Group, the county’s economic-development agency. JPS officials contacted the Economic Development Corp. of Jackson County — an arm of county government that is run by The Enterprise Group — to express interest in obtaining the bonds. Renovation projects planned for JPS include: replacing roofs, improving classroom ventilation, building a fitness center and upgrading athletic fields. The district also plans to buy new buses, classroom projectors, computers and video-conferencing equipment. The board in August approved designating the entire county as a Recovery Zone to make all local businesses and public entities eligible for financing through the program. The entire county qualified as a Recovery Zone — typically considered an area with significant poverty, unemployment and home foreclosure rates — because of the state of the local economy. County Commissioner Jon Williams said it made sense for the board to allocate the bonds to JPS. “The savings could be passed on to the citizens,” Williams said.  News 2010-03-17T10:33:00-05:00 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/683 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/adco-products-in-jackson-county-awarded-tax-credit-which-may-lead-to-212-ne/#When:22:36:00Z By Chris Gautz Jackson Citizen Patriot March 16, 2010 A Michigan Center company that made its mark in the automotive industry is venturing further into the solar panel market — and with the help of a lucrative state tax credit, may add 212 jobs in the next five years. ADCO Products, 4401 Page Ave., makes adhesives and sealants used in the automotive and construction industries and plans to make a $17.3 million investment in the photovoltaic panel adhesive market its solar panel business by consolidating existing facilities in either Michigan or Indiana. This morning, the Michigan Economic Growth Authority approved a five-year, $1.2 million tax credit to encourage the company to bring the work here. According to the MEGA, the company is also considering an investment in Evansville, Ind. “I’m ecstatic,” said Scott Fleming, president and CEO of The Enterprise Group, the county’s economic-development agency. This project would be larger than all of the investment in base jobs the EG calculated in the county in 2009, Fleming said. “We did not have a banner year (in 2009),” Fleming said. Fleming credited Amy Torres, director of economic development for the EG, and Ed Reed, business development manager for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, with helping to put the deal together. Fleming said there are several other Jackson County companies looking at expansion projects as well. “We’re seeing some positive things happen,” Fleming said. Leoni Township Supervisor Todd Brittain said this could mean more jobs for the area and that is welcome news. “We’ve had some bad news previously, but things are starting to look a lot better,” Brittain said. At last week’s Leoni Township board meeting, the township approved a 12-year tax abatement on the company’s real and personal property, estimated at $557,000 in tax savings over a 15-year span. According to the MEGA, the average weekly wage for the new jobs is expected to be $577, along with health care benefits. The company has 158 employees now in Michigan and also has locations in Indiana and Ohio. ADCO’s facility in Leoni Township centered on making products for the automotive, maritime and architectural industries, the document said. ADCO got into the solar panel market three years ago and produces more than 50 products with solar applications. In 2005, ADCO received a tax break on a $1 million investment in new equipment. The Leoni Township Board at the time granted the company a 50 percent industrial facilities tax exemption over eight years based on a formula that considered the size of the investment and that the company would retain its then-207 jobs. For more information, visit www.adcocorp.com.  News 2010-03-16T22:36:00-05:00 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/674 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/performance-automotives-12-million-investment-in-jackson-expected-to-create/#When:15:06:00Z By Keith Roberts Jackson Citizen Patriot Thursday, March 11, 2010 Performance Automotive, a locally owned and operated auto parts supplier, plans to invest $1.2 million in a new warehouse and create 30 jobs. The warehouse will be in a 40,000-square-foot building at 546 N. Mechanic St., about two blocks south of Armory Arts Village. “We’re excited to be participating in the renovation of this neighborhood, and can’t wait to open the facility this summer,” Tim Stone, president of Performance Automotive, said in a news release issued by The Enterprise Group of Jackson. Jackson Mayor Karen Dunigan said she is pleased a local company is expanding. “Every job is an important one right now,” Dunigan said. Dunigan also commended The Enterprise Group, the county’s economic-development agency; Barry Hicks, the city’s economic development project manager; and the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority for helping the company deal with environmental issues at the site. “It’s a great working relationship,” Dunigan said. Performance Automotive will receive a $19,000 grant from the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority to help pay environmental-assessment costs. Performance Automotive, a privately owned corporation, was founded in Jackson in 1971 as an automotive performance parts store and now offers complete lines of repair parts. In addition to the warehouse, Performance Automotive has retail locations at 317 W. Prospect St. and 3300 E. Michigan Ave. in Jackson, and stores in Albion, Adrian and Tecumseh. Performance Automotive Northwest, Hillsdale, and Jonesville are separate companies from Performance Automotive, but were originally part of the same group.  News 2010-03-11T15:06:00-05:00 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/675 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/procurement-technical-assistance-center-helps-manufacturers-diversify/#When:15:16:00Z By Ingrid Jacques Jackson Citizen Patriot Monday, March 8, 2010 Bill Hirsch, projects manager at Clarklake Machine Inc., wanted to do more for his country. So in late 2007 he wrote a letter to Gov. Jennifer Granholm and told her about the company and how he wanted to help the U.S. Department of Defense. A short while later, he was contacted by Pennie Southwell, the Enterprise Group’s program director of the Procurement Technical Assistance Center. After a site inspection and gaining the necessary security clearances, Hirsch and the company were on their way to fulfilling his vision. Clarklake Machine, 9451 S. Meridian Road in Clarklake, is a precision parts manufacturer that specializes in parts for heavy trucks and motorcycle transmissions. Now the company is working on its second defense contract. Both projects have supplied tools that support the mobility of ground vehicles and are put directly into operation, Hirsch said. “How many times do you get to help your country?” Hirsch said. “It elevates the organization.” In a tough economy, area manufacturers have had to diversify. PTAC helps companies do that by teaching them how to land contracts with the federal government. It serves approximately 70 companies in Jackson County. PTAC is a nonprofit organization funded largely by grants from the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency and the Michigan Economic Development Corp., and “supports national security by ensuring a broad base of capable suppliers for the defense industry and other agencies,” according to the Enterprise Group’s Web site. Southwell said Clarklake Machine is one of many PTAC success stories. As the program director for the past 23 years, Southwell has a lot of experience matching local companies with national projects — and things are looking up for Jackson. In 2008, the value of contracts in Jackson County was $2.3 million, but that more than tripled to $8.5 million in 2009. Southwell said the majority of these contracts were with the Defense Department. While the procurement process is not easy, she said the rewards are worth the effort. The federal government has money to spend, plus it pays promptly for completed work — which is not always true of traditional clients. The Jackson PTAC office was the first in Michigan, and is now one of 13 in the state. Though companies do not have to go through PTAC to secure contracts, Southwell said she can make the process easier for clients since she is familiar with the bidding process and the laws and regulations. Most federal contracts are bid on and won on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site, FedBizOpps.gov. The government posts all of its bidding opportunities of more than $25,000 on the site, which advertises more than 26,000 active federal opportunities. Bill Rayl, executive director of the Jackson Area Manufacturers Association, said while it can take significant work to land a contract, area companies have had “a lot of success” through the program when they know how to match their capabilities with an available project. “You get what you put into it,” he said. Rayl said JAMA works alongside PTAC to help manufacturers find niches that turn into successful ventures. JAMA has also coordinated subcontracting opportunities for smaller companies that may not take a bid on their own, but are able to provide parts or services for the company with the contract. Consequently, several companies could benefit from one contract. For more information about the Procurement Technical Assistance Center of South Central Michigan, visit www.enterprisegroup.org/ptac or call Pennie Southwell, the Enterprise Group’s PTAC program director, at 788-4680. He is proud that Clarklake Machine was named the “Jackson County Government Contractor of the Year” in 2008 by PTAC and subsequently recognized in 2009 by Congress through U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek. News 2010-03-08T15:16:00-05:00 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/665 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/jackson-leaders-bid-farewell-to-acme-building-complex-structure-to-be-demol/#When:12:24:00Z By Keith Roberts | Jackson Citizen Patriot Friday, February 5, 2010 The Acme Building complex, a symbol of Jacksons prison and manufacturing past, is soon to be gone but not forgotten. Those words were used Friday by Amy Torres, director of economic development for The Enterprise Group of Jackson, who is probably more responsible than anyone for the complexs impending implosion. Torres gave the closing remarks at a ceremony commemorating the history of the complex. Torres borrowed the phrase from a series of photographs of the complex by Jackson artist Willa Davis and said it described the way she felt about getting rid of the attractive nuisance. About 75 dignitaries attended the event. The complex, 600 to 626 N. Mechanic St., will come down next week and clear the way for the construction of the Grand River ArtsWalk in the spring. Pitsch Companies of Grand Rapids is demolishing the complex, which is owned by The Enterprise Group, for $247,360. The complex was part of Jacksons prison factory system, which played a key role in its development. It was to be the home of Armory Arts Village, but the artist community moved down the street to the former National Guard Armory and state prison after extensive soil contamination was found. Steve Shotwell, chair of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, said the effort was the result of a county-city partnership. Jackson Mayor Karen Dunigan agreed and said it proves once again we are better together. After the ceremony, several dignitaries took swings at the northeast corner of the main building with sledge hammers and an excavator began knocking down the graffiti-covered garage nearby. The walk will start at Louis Glick Highway and Mechanic Street, which will be restored with bricks and have a bike lane, jog through Armory Arts Village and follow the Grand River to Monroe Street. It will be connected to Lions Park by a bridge. News 2010-02-08T12:24:00-05:00 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/650 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/kaneka-building-sale-final/#When:13:43:00Z Maverick Industries closes deal to purchase former Kaneka Texas plant in Blackman Township; 90 jobs expected to be created By Chris Gautz Jackson Citizen Patriot Wednesday, December 23, 2009 When Kaneka Texas closed its doors last year, it left 50 people without work and left unoccupied one of Jackson County’s most prime pieces of industrial real estate. Before production ceased in August 2008, a variety of state and local officials worked to find a buyer and spent nearly all year securing the financing. On Tuesday, the long-awaited deal was finalized when Maverick Industries purchased the Blackman Township facility off I-94, at 4335 County Farm Road and plans to begin operations next month. Maverick is expected to hire 90 people, including some who had worked at Kaneka, within five years. Scott Fleming, president and CEO of The Enterprise Group, Jackson County’s economic-development organization, led the initiative and marketed the building for Kaneka. He said he showed it to close to 40 companies who considered purchasing it. “We had to kiss a lot of frogs, and we found a prince to come in,” Fleming said of Maverick. Tom Grace, Maverick’s executive vice president and CEO, said his company will be one of the largest steam chest molding facilities in North America, designing and producing packaging solutions for a variety of high-growth industries. At a luncheon Tuesday, Fleming brought together a number of the key players in the deal to extend his thanks. Steven Skarke, site manager and senior vice president of operations for Kaneka, surprised everyone in attendance when he handed Fleming a check for $50,000 as a thank-you donation for all the EG’s hard work. Skarke read a letter from Kaneka President Shinji Mizusawa and said they hoped the EG will be able to use the money to continue to attract business to the area. “It was a difficult decision to close down and anything that we could do to keep employment in the area and keep some of these folks working was going to be a win-win situation,” Skarke said. Fleming said he wished there were more companies like Kaneka around to work with. He said because the company left nearly $16 million worth of the plant’s equipment, office furniture and computers in the facility, it made it more attractive to sell. Kaneka spent eight years at the Blackman Township plant making energy absorbers — the foam between the plastic and metal bumper pieces — for the automotive industry. U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer, who assisted in the deal, said he was pleased to hear of the company’s donation. “This is a very wonderful Christmas present,” Schauer said. Fleming said he was also thankful for the efforts of state Rep. Mike Simpson, who died Friday after suffering a heart attack. “Mike was part of it, too,” Fleming said. Special thanks to John Waldron and Bill Jors of County National Bank as they assisted with financing a major portion of the project View the Press Release News 2009-12-23T13:43:00-05:00 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/628 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/bids-taken-on-demolition-of-acme-complex-near-art-district-in-jackson/#When:16:02:01Z By Tarryl Q. Jackson Friday, October 30, 2009 Jackson residents and visitors will soon be able to view an up-and-coming art district instead of the dilapidated buildings that overlook Mechanic and Ganson streets. Local officials are getting closer to demolishing the Acme Industries complex, which borders Art 634 and Armory Arts Village. The Enterprise Group of Jackson, which owns the buildings at 600 to 626 N. Mechanic St., is taking bids from contractors to have the buildings torn down over the winter to make way for the construction of the Grand River Arts Walk in the spring. “We’re moving along on all kinds of fronts,” said Amy Torres, director of economic development for The Enterprise Group. “The stars are aligning, finally.” The Enterprise Group had a mandatory walk-through of the property for eligible bidders earlier this week. About 50 individuals who represented 30 to 45 companies throughout the state showed up, Torres said. Bids are due Nov. 11, and The Enterprise Group hopes to award a contract in December, Torres said. Officials got word in July that demolition could proceed. The buildings were part of a prison factory system that played a key role in Jackson’s industrial development in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and continued to operate into the 1980s. The Acme complex was to be home of the Armory Arts Village, and efforts were made to list it on the National Register of Historic Places. But after extensive soil contamination was found, the artist community moved to the nearby former Michigan National Guard Armory and state prison. The State Historic Preservation Office has acknowledged the need to demolish the buildings and signed a memorandum of understanding with The Enterprise Group and the city, Torres said. “I think the demolition will be great for the area,” said Mindy Bradish-Orta, president of the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce. “A lot of people think that part of the area is unsafe and not aesthetically pleasing.” Because of the contamination, the site will most likely become a parking lot. An environmental review has been conducted. “It’s not going to be a parking lot and open space right away,” Torres said. “It’s the first phase in the eventual development.” The Enterprise Group and the city received federal funding earlier this year to tear down the building. In February, The Enterprise Group secured $332,500 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act. In April, the city was notified it would receive $1.7 million in federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds and agreed to set aside $375,000 for the demolition. The Jackson County Brownfield Development Authority also agreed to contribute up to $50,000.  News 2009-11-05T16:02:01-05:00 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/620 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/rtd-manufacturing-gets-contract-to-assemble-materials-for-us-army-update/#When:12:07:00Z By Chris Gautz | Jackson Citizen Patriot October 26, 2009 Standing in front of the dozen or so employees left at RTD Manufacturing, a host of politicians and business leaders announced a major military contract that could keep those workers busy and add to their ranks. Warren-based Waltonen Engineering Inc. won a five year contract earlier this month with the U.S. Army’s Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center with a ceiling of $430 million. RTD will be the primary manufacturer on the team Waltonen assembled to produce the materials the Army requests. It does not guarantee work, but it does give them the opportunity, RTD President Bryant Ramsey said. “The opportunity is very exciting,” Ramsey said. RTD Manufacturing Inc., 1150 S. Elm St. is a full-service job shop, from machining high-tolerance details to replacement parts and fixtures. Tom Laboda, director of business development for Waltonen, said the products they could build could range from unmanned robots to look for improvised explosive devices, to putting up-armor kits on Humvees. “Anything that moves in the Army on the ground, comes through this contract,” Laboda said. U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, said this will help to aid the war effort. “We will protect and provide the tools for the warfighters… here together, as a team,” Schauer said. State Rep. Martin Griffin, D-Jackson helped the company search for locations when it moved to Jackson several years ago while he was the city’s mayor. He said he is happy to see it have the potential to grow. “These people are in a position to do pretty much anything,” Griffin said. “In this economy, it’s either adapt, or go out of business and they’re looking everywhere… to change their business and stay afloat, and they’re doing a really good job.” RTD vice president of operations Stephen Artz said RTD will work with The Enterprise Group to get local manufacturers qualified to assist them in this level of military work, so they can subcontract the work locally when possible. “It could really benefit a lot in the Jackson area,” Artz said.  News 2009-10-27T12:07:00-05:00 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/624 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/rtd-manufacturing-gets-major-military-contract-deal-expected-to-help-retain/#When:10:43:00Z By Chris Gautz October 26, 2009 A local manufacturer has received a major military contract that is expected to create and retain jobs, according to U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer’s office. Officials were to announce details of the contract at a news conference this morning at RTD Manufacturing Inc., 1150 S. Elm St. “It opens the door for military projects to come to RTD,” Schauer spokesman Zack Pohl said. Schauer, RTD President Bryant Ramsey and Scott Fleming, president and CEO of The Enterprise Group, the county’s economic development agency, will discuss the contract at the event. Pohl said because of the contract, now when the U.S. military needs a new piece of equipment, it can turn to manufacturers like RTD to produce it. RTD is a full-service job shop, from machining high-tolerance details to replacement parts and fixtures. Pohl said Schauer’s Economic Development Director Lisa Dedden Cooper has been working on this project for two years. In recent years the company has worked to diversify and look for business in new markets. In 2007, the firm purchased a rare, hand-held 3-D scanner, which cost several hundred thousand dollars and allows the company to scan fabricated parts or complicated machines for themselves or other customers. One year ago, the company announced it was partnering with Dexter-based inventor Ken Henes to produce a classified military device that could be used to fight forest fires and be used with various military and homeland security applications. It was expected to create 1,200 jobs in four years, but that deal never materialized. At that time the company employed 27, about half of what it did two years ago. The company now has about a dozen employees, Pohl said. “They are looking for ways to diversify their business and this opens a new avenue for them to pursue to be able to compete in the 21st-century economy,” Pohl said. RTD was founded by Ramsey’s father, the late William “Bill” Ramsey, in his garage in 1985. Since his death in 2005, Ramsey’s sons have run the company. News 2009-10-26T10:43:00-05:00