October 14, 2008 -- Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that $2.6 million in state Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF) Category A grant funding will help to create or retain 1,411 jobs in Michigan. Cities in Allegan, Clinton, Kalamazoo, Livingston and Montcalm counties will receive grant funding. The state grants will leverage more than $338 million in private investment at a private/public investment ratio of 132-to-1.
"We are committed to doing all that we can to bring jobs to Michigan and that includes strengthening the infrastructure that companies need to be successful," Granholm said. "These small investments have a huge impact on our communities by supporting companies as they grow and create jobs."
The TEDF "Category A" or "Target Industries Program" provides funding for roadway improvements to encourage private investments in Michigan that will create or retain jobs. Such improvements will help accommodate increased traffic and provide commercial routes that are safe and more efficient for new and expanding companies.
PROJECT DETAILS
Allegan County
The Perrigo Company is a leading global healthcare supplier that develops, manufactures and distributes over-the-counter pharmaceutical products. It is the world's largest manufacturer of over-the-counter pharmaceutical products for the store brand market. Perrigo is planning a 30,000-square-foot office and 20,000-square-foot production facility at its Allegan location. The expansion will represent a $10.5 million investment and create 400 new jobs.
The M-222/Eastern Avenue intersection, as currently configured, causes user delays due to traffic waiting to make turns. The additional traffic generated by the expansion may add to existing delays. In order to improve the overall operation of the intersection, the MDOT Southwest Region will add left-turn lanes on M-222 and a dedicated right-turn lane on the west leg of M-222. The south leg of Eastern Avenue will be upgraded to accommodate the new intersection.
The cost of these improvements is $725,000, including $575,000 in state TEDF funds, and $150,000 in match from MDOT's Southwest Region.
Clinton County
Mahle Engine Components USA, Inc., a division of German-based Mahle GmbH, is a leading manufacturer of auto components and one of the world's top 30 Tier 1 suppliers. Mahle plans to expand and produce high-tech heavy-duty piston rings in order to diversify production in St. Johns. Following a recent 30,000-square-foot expansion, the company will invest $18 million in a new expansion that will create 64 new jobs by 2010.
The city of St. Johns will construct a right-turn lane on State Street (M-21) in order to accommodate Mahle's new truck entrance. The improvements will include removing the existing shoulder, drainage improvements, adding new curb and gutter, and bituminous paving. These changes will provide a lane for trucks to make right turns into the facility, allowing State Street traffic to flow uninterrupted.
The cost of these improvements is $153,670, including $120,000 in state TEDF funds, and $33,670 in local match from the city of St. Johns.
Kalamazoo County
Graphic Packaging International (GPI), Inc., is a leading provider of paperboard packaging solutions for a wide variety of products to multi-national and other consumer products companies. GPI will be constructing two additions to its Kalamazoo paperboard fabrication facility, totaling 119,000-square-feet. The company will be investing a total of $33.5 million in new equipment and buildings, and create 160 new jobs by the end of 2009.
Currently, 27 round-trips per day are made by a roll-trailer car between the GPI paper mill and its paperboard fabrication facility, which are located on opposite sides of North Pitcher Street. Despite traffic signals and warning signs, the roll-trailer car has difficulty crossing the street. The proposed roadway improvements will raise the elevation of North Pitcher Street, providing an improved crossover route between the paper mill and paperboard fabrication facility. These improvements will permit multiple roll-trailer cars, reducing the number and frequency of crossover trips.
The cost of these improvements is $325,000, including $140,000 in state TEDF funds, and $185,000 in local match from the city of Kalamazoo and the Kalamazoo County Economic Development Corporation.
Livingston County
Eberspacher N.A. (ENA) located in Brighton's Paramount Industrial Park in 2004, primarily due to its central location and the proximity to the supplier and customer base in Michigan. ENA had targeted moving the facility's current automotive-related products to other facilities, which would have eliminated the current workforce. Due in part to the central location of the Brighton plant, and a commitment for improved access, the company will construct a 100,000-square-foot addition. The addition and the existing facility will produce catalytic converter/emission control products targeted to the larger truck market. The new work at the Brighton facility will allow for the retention of 200 existing and create 70 new jobs.
As built, Orndorf Drive, from just west of Grand River Avenue to 900 feet east of Karl Greimel Drive, does not meet industrial standards. Improvements will help facilitate ENA's "just-in-time" shipping schedule, as well as provide greater access. The proposed project consists of widening, resurfacing and reconstructing 1,200 linear feet of Orndorf Drive, creating an all-season cross section that will connect the Paramount Industrial Park to Grand River Avenue. The project also will relocate the U.S. Post Office entrance drive to eliminate conflicting traffic movements.
The cost of these improvements is $849,600, including $460,200 in state TEDF funds, and $389,400 in local match from the city of Brighton.
Montcalm County
United Solar Ovonic (USO), LLC is the leader in building integrated and commercial rooftop photovoltaics, one of the fastest growing segments of the solar power industry. It manufactures and sells thin-film solar laminates that convert sunlight to energy, using proprietary technology. The company currently has one building with two active production lines and another building with two lines in development. USO is expanding each building by 150,000-square-feet to include four more production lines. The expansion will create an additional 517 jobs by 2010.
To accommodate additional traffic, the city of Greenville will rehabilitate Van Deinse Avenue, from M-91 to Industrial Park Drive; and Industrial Park Drive, from Van Deinse to 2,670 feet south. The new surface will prolong the service life of the roadway by preventing water from entering the base and improving ride quality. MDOT Grand Region will resurface M-91 from Gibson to Wise. The M-91 project involves milling and resurfacing the existing pavement, creating a consistent cross section for the length of the project.
The cost of these improvements is $3,464,010, including $1,271,808 in state TEDF funds, $132,202 in local match from the city of Greenville and $2,060,000 from MDOT's Grand Region.
Protect Michigan families: Where Workers Present Drive 45! -A message from MDOT and Michigan's Give 'em a Brake Safety Coalition
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