Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced three business expansion projects expected to create a total of 165 new jobs and generate a total capital investment of $17.6 million have received support from the Michigan Strategic Fund.
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The projects are in Lexington, Ithaca and Standish.
Gielow Pickles, a fifth-generation manufacturer of refrigerated and shelf stable products, is expanding in the village of Lexington.
A leading producer of pickles, peppers, sauerkraut and various types of relish products, the company currently employs 172 Michiganders. Gielow Pickles continues to gain new customers as well as receive increased orders from its current customer base.
As a result of this growth, the company is planning an expansion at its operations in the village of Lexington, where it will construct an additional facility for production, refrigeration, fermentation, grading and packaging.
The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $10 million and create 100 jobs with the support of a $1 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant.
The company chose Michigan for the project over competing sites in Florida and Washington due to its dedicated workforce and the local working relationships it has secured over the years.
The project will further boost Michigan’s agribusiness industry and bring immediate good jobs to the area, and will solidify the company’s presence and future business in the state. Gielow Pickles provides full benefits to its employees, including medical insurance, paid leave, and tuition assistance.
Trinity Truck and Trailer Service, a leading manufacturer of milk transport tankers and mechanical repair facility is planning a two-phased expansion its headquarters facility in the city of Ithaca.
The first phase of the project will allow Trinity to pursue opportunities in the production of milk stainless steel storage silo manufacturing, pasteurization, and other hygienically designed equipment.
Currently, Michigan’s agribusiness operations rely on out-of-state suppliers for storage silos. Production of storage silos in Michigan will allow the state’s dairy producers to source their silos from within the state, resulting in a cost savings.
The second phase of the project will include the renovation of the company’s existing repair service facility.
The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $6.75 million and create 55 jobs with the support of a $192,500 Micro Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant.
The project will further boost Michigan’s agribusiness industry and bring immediate good jobs with a growing manufacturer, with the possibility of future investment and growth in Michigan.
In 2020, Michigan ranked sixth in the U.S. for milk production. Michigan’s dairy industry provides jobs, employing local veterinarians, equipment dealers, and farm employees. One dollar spent locally generates twice as much income for the local economy.
Michigan has about 900 dairy farm families who care for more than 445,000 cows.
The average dairy herd in Michigan has about 300 cows. Ninety-seven percent of Michigan dairy farms are family owned, many by multiple generations of the same family. In 2020, Michigan ranked sixth in milk production in the U.S. Dairy cows in Michigan produced 11.6 billion pounds of milk.
The average Michigan cow produces more than 27,000 pounds of milk each year, or more than 3,100 gallons of milk.
Trinity and Gielow’s investments further build on the state’s ongoing support of its robust agribusiness industry, including support for WK Kellogg Co’s expansion in Battle Creek, where it will invest $44 million and create at least 43 new high-paying jobs, in addition to retaining 170 roles.
In November, Walinga USA announced it was expanding in Wayland, where it will expand its production of pneumatic transportation systems and feed trailers for the livestock and agriculture industry.
The project is expected create 31 jobs. In May, the MSF approved support for the Dairy Distillery project, a new dairy processing facility in the village of Constantine that will reduce the carbon footprint of dairy byproduct and bring new jobs and infrastructure to the community.
The project, a joint venture by Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) and Dairy Distillery USA., is expected to generate a total capital investment of $41.1 million and create 12 well-paying jobs.
Magline, trong>
a manufacturer of durable, heavy-duty hand trucks, carts, and dollies used in the automotive, logistics, packaging, and food and beverage industries, is expanding near its headquarters in the city of Standish.
Magline is experiencing increased customer demand and plans to expand into a vacant 70,000-square-foot facility adjacent to its current headquarters.
The company plans to renovate the facility to accommodate additional manufacturing, warehousing and distribution space, allowing the company to serve additional customers and continue to grow its fleet service network.
The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $875,000 and create 10 jobs with the support of a $100,000 Micro Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant.
The company chose Michigan for the project over competing sites in other states because of the many established working relationships and dedicated core of staff it has in Michigan.
The project will bring good-paying jobs to a geographically disadvantaged area of the state and will position the company for future growth and investment in Michigan. ■