http://www.enterprisegroup.org en dkelly@enterprisegroup.org Copyright 2010 2010-03-11T15:06:00-05:00 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 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/621 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/arts-village-gallery-can-stay-open-all-winter/#When:12:11:00Z By Bill Chapin Sunday, October 25, 2009 October 25, 2009 One of the biggest complaints among the artists living at Armory Arts Village has been the lack of heat in the Grand Gallery. Last winter the hall was closed from November to May, upsetting artists who moved into the building with the idea they would have a place to display their work year-round. That scenario won’t be repeated. Last week workers began installing a radiant heating system that will allow the gallery to be used through the winter. The Enterprise Group, Jackson County’s economic-development agency, is paying for the system out of its budget. The total cost is expected to be about $40,000, President and CEO Scott Fleming said. “It hurts,” Fleming said, but keeping the gallery open was a priority for the agency. For artists, the heating system is a step in the right direction, but questions remain about the room’s availability. “It’s encouraging,” artist Jean Weir said, but “there’s a lot of unknowns.” The Enterprise Group has contracted Fancy Schmancy Events, an event-planning company based at the neighboring Art 634 development, to coordinate use of the gallery. Owner Chris LaRock Gorton said her job will be a combination of handling booking for outside groups that want to use the gallery and working with Armory Arts Village residents and others in the community to plan events. “Lots of ideas have been talked about, and now we can realize some of that ... without freezing our tails,” LaRock Gorton said. “We’re going to take small steps but dream big,” she said. “It would be great if we can make this a central part of happenings in our community.” The heating system is similar to those used to heat such large spaces as warehouses and hockey arenas, Fleming said. Fleming said the temperature will be maintained at about 55 degrees when the gallery is not in use and turned up to 70 degrees during events. The cost will be significantly less expensive then what it would have cost to heat the former drill hall — which is 250-by-50 feet with 44-foot-high ceilings — with the building’s existing boiler system. The bills could have been as high as $10,000 a month in the winter, Fleming said. “We had to find a way of heating it economically,” he said. In May when the Jackson City Council approved the second phase of the Armory Arts project, Fleming said that fees from the development would be used to buy the heating system and pay utilities, but an agreement with project developer Excel Realty Group of Shaker Heights, Ohio, was never reached. Instead The Enterprise Group will be looking at use of the hall to generate income to cover expenses. What’s still unclear to artists is what that means as far as their ability to plan exhibits in the hall. “We can’t make any plans until we know the format (and) if we’re going to be charged,” Weir said. “We need quite a bit of time to plan, and right now we’re stuck without being able to make a commitment.” At least one thing looks certain: The arts complex’s Fourth Friday Open Studio nights will continue. The Enterprise Group is budgeting $500 to cover utilities for such events as the monthly open houses. Construction of the second phase was to have started this year but has been pushed back to the spring because of environmental contamination on the site, Fleming said. The developer and The Enterprise Group are waiting to hear from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to determine what it will take to clean the site and comply with state and federal regulations. When completed, the second phase will be a mixed-use development with 49 housing units for people age 55 and older, retail and gallery space, an outdoor plaza and additional parking. Also in the works is a new Web site for the complex to market it to new artists and allow current residents to network with each other and sell their work online. News 2009-10-25T12:11:00-05:00 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/622 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/multimillion-dollar-horse-park-approved-for-jackson-county/#When:12:20:00Z By Jackie Smith October 16, 2009 A multimillion-dollar horse park is coming to northern Jackson County. The Enterprise Group of Jackson was one of three groups to submit a project proposal to the Michigan Equine Partnership last June. It was selected by the Partnership on Wednesday to construct the park, which could include show arenas, a convention center, stalls for 2,000 horses or other livestock and campgrounds. Scott Fleming, president and CEO of the Enterprise Group, said its selected proposal was founded on boosting Jackson County’s tourism industry. “This is a beginning to going up the hill for economic prosperity,” he said. “It’s one of those giant steps to bring in tourism. To look at what we have, we need to accentuate and embrace that aspect.” The cost of the project would be tens of millions of dollars, Fleming said, but the location of the park isn’t being released because of incomplete property agreements. It would be funded through private investors. It was the group’s director of its small business technology center, Roni Weaver, Fleming said, who sparked the motivation to pursue such a project. “I’ve always believed that if a person has a passion to do something, you’re going to make it happen,” he said. “Roni’s passion was putting a horse park together.” Aaron Price, the Partnership’s president, said he expects to hash out the planned facility’s designs, set plans, price and a time schedule with the Enterprise Group within the next week and to complete that process within 90 days. He said their proposal was selected because of its location near the two major interstate highways and an adjacent property that is already developed into horse riding trails. In building a park, Price said he hopes to open state residents’ eyes to the prominence of the horse industry. “Equine in Michigan is huge,” he said. “Agriculture is the second largest industry in this state. This is a long overdue project.” The Partnership, which is based in Lansing and promotes the horse industry, had received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2007 to determine the feasibility of building a multi-purpose equine park in southern Michigan. Among the site criteria, Price said was also the need to service five states. Proposals had also been received from the Springport Township Equine Partners and a group supported by the Albion Economic Development Corp. and Albion College. When they were submitted last spring, proposals had to include open space at least 600 acres in size and ready access to hotels, freeways and restaurants. Val Vail-Shirey, executive director of the Partnership, said they’d researched and performed in-depth site visits during the last few months to pick a proposal. The Partnership had originally planned to pick a site in September, she said, but identifying a proposal that “would really unite the equine industry” took longer than planned. “People don’t realize the number of horses we have and how sizable the industry is,” Vail-Shirey said. Reasons for building a park came from the state’s lack of investment in the industry, she said, recalling stories of Michigan equine groups hosting annual national equine competitions in other states. “We want to bring those to Michigan,” Vail-Shirey said. “That will have a very positive economic impact to the state with a showplace that is economically viable and attractive.” News 2009-10-16T12:20:00-05:00 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/614 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/ten-michigan-counties-to-receive-more-than-5-million/#When:18:18:00Z WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009 CONTACT: Bill Shreck, MDOT Director of Communications, 517-335-3084 The Granholm Administration today announced that nine Michigan counties will soon benefit from more than $5 million in federal Transportation Enhancement (TE) funding. The funding will bring about the widening or improving of 24 miles of bike paths and paved shoulders across the state, the restoration of a historic brick street in Jackson, streetscape improvements in Big Rapids and Elberta, and a project to beautify the Saginaw Valley gateway area at I-75 and Birch Run. Work on the projects is expected to be completed during the 2010 construction season. “These transportation improvements provide more bike paths and trails and beautify our streets and roadsides,” said Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm. “The results benefit our communities and local businesses, and are enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.” Under federal law, 10 percent of federal surface transportation funds are set aside for TE projects. TE funds cannot be used to build or repair roads. Administered by MDOT, TE grants enable communities to invest in landscapes, streetscapes, and bike path development. These grants provide a maximum of 80 percent of the money required for each project, with the remainder coming from state and local government and the private sector. “The TE program is a great way for MDOT to partner with cities, townships, villages and county road commissions to bring much needed improvements to various areas of the state,” said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. The following projects are listed by county: Benzie County MDOT, in partnership with the city of Elberta will streetscape Frankfort Avenue (M-168) from M-22 north and west to the entrance of the Elberta Waterfront Park. The project will include decorative sidewalks, street lights, street trees, benches and trash receptacles and will be done in conjunction with a MDOT road reconstruction project. The total project budget is $452,938, including $362,350 in federal transportation enhancement funds and $90,588 in match from MDOT.  Ingham County MDOT, in partnership with the city of East Lansing, will construct 1.4 miles of bike paths along the I-69 Business Loop (BL) (Saginaw Street). The path will be built along the north side of the I-69 BL from Harrison Road to Stonegate Street, and along the south side of the I-69 BL from Audubon to Alton streets. The total project budget is $1,722,083, including $1,153,666 in federal TE funds, $344,417 in match from MDOT, and $224,000 in match from the city. Jackson County The City of Jackson will develop a nonmotorized pedestrian pathway to connect its central business district with the Cool City Neighborhood-designated Armory Arts area.  The Grand River ArtsWalk will begin near the downtown farmers’ market at Glick Highway, following along Mechanic Street using existing bike lanes and sidewalk through the Armory Arts Project to North Street. The trail will then follow the Grand River to Monroe Street, including a short spur and bridge crossing the Grand River to Lion’s Park. At Monroe Street, the trail will extend west to Blackstone Street and east to the railroad tracks to connect with local neighborhoods. Mechanic Street is an historic brick street that will be rehabilitated and beautified. The trail will include both bituminous and concrete bike paths, ADA ramps, street lights, crosswalks, benches, trash receptacles, a pedestrian bridge and landscape improvements. The project budget is $1,581,617, including $986,202 in federal TE funds, $300,000 from a Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Clean Michigan Initiative ($150,000 funded by The Jackson County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority), and $295,415 from the city. Iron County MDOT, in partnership with Crystal Falls Township and the city of Crystal Falls, will construct a 2.3 mile bike path along US-2 from Park Street in Crystal Falls to the Iron County Medical Care Facility in Crystal Falls Township, planting a number of trees along the route. The new path will connect to a future proposed pathway to Bewabic State Park and eventually with the city of Iron River. The bike path will be constructed in conjunction with a road project. The total project cost is $742,799, including $542,689 in federal TE funds and $200,110 in local matching funds with $148,560 from MDOT, $45,088 from the township and $6,462 from the city. Kent County The city of Walker will construct a 4.1-mile nonmotorized path that will start at Millennium Park and end at the Walker City Central Park and City Complex. The Frederik Meijer Standale Trail will create the first major north-south nonmotorized trail route in the city and will ultimately create a link between the Frederik Meijer 4 Mile Trail, the Muskatawa Trail, the Grandwalk Greenway, and the Millennium Park/Kent Trails system. The total project cost is $1,700,000, including $850,000 in federal TE funds, $690,000 from the West Michigan Trails and Greenways Coalition, and $160,000 from the Standale Downtown Development Authority. Leelanau County MDOT will expand the M-22 Heritage Route nonmotorized system by expanding the existing 3-foot shoulders to 5-foot-wide shoulders from the Benzie County line north to the southern village limits of Empire. The total project cost is $322,692, including $258,154 in federal TE funds and $64,538 in match from MDOT. Manistee County The Manistee County Road Commission will pave 4-foot-wide shoulders on Red Apple Road from Cherry Street to West Fox Farm Road to further develop the nonmotorized system just south of the city of Manistee. The total project cost is $186,928, including $136,928 in federal TE funds, $30,000 in match funds from the road commission and $20,000 in match from Filer Charter Township.  Mecosta County The city of Big Rapids will streetscape Michigan Avenue from Linden Street to Pine Street. The project elements include new energy-efficient LED street level lights, decorative sidewalks, ornamental plantings, benches and trash receptacles. This project is being done in conjunction with a Michigan Avenue road project, drainage improvements, new curb and gutter, architectural facade enhancements to buildings, building rehabilitation, and signs to direct pedestrians. The total project cost is $894,792, including $400,000 in federal TE funds, $262,000 from a Michigan State Housing Development Authority Vibrant Small Cities Initiative grant, and $232,792 from the city.  Saginaw County MDOT will landscape the embankment of Exit 136 on northbound I-75 at Birch Run Road in Saginaw County. The landscaping will include evergreen trees, deciduous trees, shrubs, perennials and lighting. All landscape elements will be designed around a “Welcome to the Saginaw Valley” sign that is being paid for with private funds. The total project cost is $188,409, including $106,302 in federal TE funds, $37,683 in match from MDOT, and $44,424 in match from private sources. Sanilac County MDOT will widen paved shoulders of M-25 for nonmotorized use from 5 feet to 8 feet from 0.5 mile north of Walker Road to the north village limits of Lexington. The work will be done in conjunction with a road surface overlay project. When this project is complete, users will enjoy a trail that extends from the Sanilac/St. Clair county line, around the Thumb, to the Huron/Tuscola county line. The total project cost is $701,000, including $560,800 in federal TE funds and $140,200 in match from MDOT.  MDOT Working to improve our state roads and bridges. News 2009-10-14T18:18:00-05:00