Two significant manufacturing developments are poised to boost Kalamazoo County's economy, with promises of job creation and substantial capital investment. Governor Gretchen Whitmer's office relayed that these developments comprise the renovation of a manufacturing facility in Portage by TST of Portage and the establishment of a new Forming USA sales and manufacturing facility in Schoolcraft Township, as reported by MLive.
In the case of TST of Portage, the project involves not just the rejuvenation of an existing building but also the erection of a new construction altogether, this will encompass an initial 43,000-square-foot manufacturing plant which will replace a slightly smaller precursor; it's expected to foster the creation of 14 jobs paying an average wage of $30.29 an hour, according to MLive. Notably, TST Portage received a series of incentives, including a Brownfield TIF and an Industrial Facilities Tax abatement, with combined support nearing $1.3 million to encourage their decision to expand in Michigan as opposed to other considered locations like Minnesota and Indiana, as per WOODTV.
For its part, Forming USA — a Swiss-based cold-rolled steel profiles manufacturer — is introduced to the region and expects to add 50 new jobs with a phased construction plan, starting with a 50,000-square-foot facility which will eventually burgeon across its 38-acre site over the next decade, projecting over $15 million in capital investment; assistance comes in the form of a $500,000 Michigan Business Development Program grant, the scheme has also been illuminated by WKZO.
These initiatives represent a combined injection of over $25 million into the local economy and the establishment of 64 new jobs, Ryan Thomas, president of Depatie Fluid Power Company, one of the TST property's future tenants, told WOODTV, "It creates a facility that supports our local customers along with flexible space for growth as our company transitions to Industry 4.0." Moreover, Forming USA's managing director Joel Schipper expressed the company's excitement ahead of their U.S. expansion citing strong collaborations and the opportunity to contribute to job creation and economic growth.
