Saginaw Future Development Newsletter

May 2023

Saginaw Control and Engineering Expanding

at Great Lakes Tech Park

Harold Baldauf - 1st Generation centered is 90 years old and started SCE in his garage

in 1963. Left and right of him is David Baldauf (son) & Fred May (son-in-law) - 2nd

Generation. On the outside Cole Van Strydonk (grandson-in law) and Scott Baldauf

(grandson) - 3rd Generation

Saginaw Control and Engineering (SCE) announced another major expansion at its Saginaw West Facility in the Great Lakes Tech Park. The 110,000 sq. ft. facility is required due to increased demand across all of the company’s markets. The project is expected to result in the creation of 10 new jobs and 26 jobs retained. SCE continues to be a leader in the electrical enclosure industry. This more $10.5 million expansion in Thomas Township will include some of the latest state-of-the-art equipment to ensure the highest quality electrical enclosures along with quick deliveries, competitive prices, and continuing to be made 100% in the USA. SCE headquarters is located at Gratiot (M-46) and Midland Rd. in Saginaw Charter Township.

Amigo Mobility Adding 26,000 Square Feet

Amigo Mobility International is expanding again in Bridgeport Charter Township. Amigo acquired property to the east of its facility and will add a 26,000 sq. ft. building. The company is also adding equipment for powder coating and laser cutting, and will create 23 new jobs over the next three years. Saginaw Future assisted Amigo and the community with a PA 198 industrial facilities exemption and helped secure an incentive package through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The total investment is more than $6.2 million.

Cornerstone Fabricating Investing $1 Million

Cornerstone Fabricating and Construction is expanding in Richland Township. The company designs and builds systems for a variety of customers including, General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Union Electric Power Company, St. Mary's Cement, Pepsi, Anheuser Busch, and others. Cornerstone is constructing a 10,000 sq. ft. facility, which will include a paint booth, powder-coating oven, crane and shipping and receiving area. The total investment is $1 million and the expansion will retain six jobs. Saginaw Future assisted the company and community with an Industrial Facilities Tax exemption.

Bavarian Lodge will be the State's Largest

Indoor Waterpark & Family Entertainment Center

Frankenmuth's Bavarian Inn Lodge has begun construction on the $80 million development. It will result in the State of Michigan’s largest indoor waterpark and family entertainment center space. Saginaw Future assisted the company in securing a $750,000 Michigan Business Development Program grant.

State Incentive Package for Merrill Project

MERRILL has begun its expansion project in the Village of Merrill. The investment is projected to be $25.3 million, including $9.2 million in construction. The company expects to retain 72 jobs and add 14 new jobs. SFI assisted MERRILL and the community with a PA 198 Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate and also assisted the company in securing a state incentive package totaling approximately $350,000.

Vacant Building Being Redeveloped

Wall Den Saginaw LLC has purchased the former Walgreens store located at 3424 E. Genesee Ave. in the City of Saginaw. The building is 15,000 sq. ft. and has been vacant since 2020. The local developers plan to invest $2.4 million into the property and convert the building into a grocery store. The project will create 30 jobs. Saginaw Future assisted the company and the community with an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act exemption.

New Project for

The Work Wear Store

The Work Wear Store is renovating 338 sq. ft. of interior space within its existing building in the City of Saginaw. The company purchased a single-head embroidery machine to increase capacity, improve order turnaround time and increase profitability. The expansion will allow Work Wear to maintain the deliverance of quality and efficient service to its current clients, while obtaining new customers. Total project investment is nearly $35,000.

Welcom to Old Town Saginaw Michigan Cream & Sugar

Michigan Cream & Sugar Ice Cream Co. is adding a second location at 122 S. Hamilton St. in Old Town Saginaw. The business processes locally sourced milk, cream, and sugar into high quality ice cream. Its Uptown Bay City location served over 5,000 gallons made on-site in 2022. The entire space is being redeveloped to include commercial kitchen equipment and freezers with opening set for Spring 2024. Saginaw Future has assisted with grant applications and letters of support from the City of Saginaw, Riverview Brownstones Hamilton Condominium Association, Old Town Business Association, and the Saginaw DDA. The company is also pursuing a MDARD grant, Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act tax freeze, and a façade grant through the DDA. Total capital investment is $500,000 and the company was awarded a $25,000 Match on Main grant.

Michigan’s Largest Wind Park Located in Great Lakes Bay Region

DTE Energy, Michigan’s largest producer of and investor in renewable energy, recently announced that Michigan’s largest wind park, Meridian Wind, is now operational. Spanning three townships across Midland and Saginaw counties, the 225-megawatt wind park has 77 wind turbines and generates enough clean energy to power more than 78,000 homes. DTE managed all aspects of the Park’s development, from land acquisition and permitting through construction, and will assume responsibility for the project’s ongoing operations and maintenance. With the commissioning of Meridian Wind Park, DTE now has 20 wind parks in its renewable energy portfolio. These projects, along with the company’s 33 solar parks, generate enough clean energy to power more than 750,000 homes and represent an investment of more than $3 billion.

APEX Government Contracting Opportunities

The Region 5 Saginaw Future APEX Accelerator, formerly, the Saginaw Future Procurement Technical Assistance Center, assists businesses in identifying and securing government contracts. In the first quarter, the PTAC assisted 15 regional companies that won 281 government contracts valued at more than $7 million.

The federal government is a multibillion-dollar purchaser of goods and services. States and local governments are also major purchasers of products and services. The APEX can help you understand and take advantage of government contracting opportunities for NO FEE.

Upcoming Small Business Innovative Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Trainings

Department of Energy: Proposal Preparation Workshop; July 27, 2023 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
National Science Foundation: Proposal Preparation Intensive; September 7, 2023 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
National Institute of Health: Proposal Preparation Intensive; September 28, 2023 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Contact Delena Spates-Allen for more information at 989-757-2105 or email dsallen@SaginawFuture.com

$25,000 Industry 4.0 Implementation Grant for Plastatech

Plastatech, located in Buena Vista Charter Township, received a $25,000 Industry 4.0 Implementation grant. The company produces PVC geomembranes with maximum flexibility for ease of handling and installation. The grant program is part of the State of Michigan's initiative to bring 50% of manufacturers into Industry 4.0 technology usage. The grants specifically cover 50% reimbursable expense of qualifying Industry 4.0 Technology with focus on additive manufacturing and advanced materials, artificial intelligence, robotics/automation, connected workers platforms and wearables, cloud computing, big data, Industrial Internet of Things (IoT), and cybersecurity. This unique grant is used to purchase equipment that provides a new technology to a company. Industry 4.0 grants are submitted to the MEDC for review and selection, and then turned over to a regional partner to administer, which is the Great Lakes Bay Manufacturers Association.

New Saginaw Future Board of Director Members

Kyle Bandlow

Dow

AB Ghosh

Hemlock Semiconductor

Tim Hausbeck

Hausbeck Pickles and Peppers

Shane Hunt

Ascension St. Mary's Hospital

Kristin Karwat

Garber Management Group

Greg Turner

Pumford Construction

Kristen Wenzel

Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works!

New SFI Vice President of Talent & Economic Development

Holly Reed is the new Vice President of Talent & Economic Development at Saginaw Future Inc. She is a lifelong resident of Saginaw County, completed her Bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and earned a Master of Business Administration graduate degree from Saginaw Valley State University. She has over 12 years of Human Resource and Organizational Development experience throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region spanning union and non-union organizations including Dow, Dow Corning, Dow Credit Union, Nexteer Automotive, and SC Johnson.

Prior to joining SFI, Holly had the privilege of leading a team of Christian volunteers from eight counties in collecting more than 10,000 shoeboxes filled with gifts and school supplies for children in need around the world through Operation Christmas Child. She is happiest with her husband raising their two daughters in Saginaw County and finds inspiration while enjoying the beaches of Lake Michigan.

Since joining SFI in February of 2023, Holly has been enthusiastically building strategic partnerships while developing new and progressive ways to improve talent attraction and retention efforts. She is working with her teammates on a holistic approach, which includes maximizing the County’s ability to provide access to reliable transportation and quality, affordable childcare. Holly is passionate about establishing collaborative relationships with educational institutions, government, and community partners to connect businesses to the resources they need to be successful.

Are you a business leader looking for talent support or a job seeker interested in relocating to Saginaw County? Reach out to Holly to start a conversation!

Great Lakes Bay Region 5 Good News

Great Lakes Bay Region 5 is an economic development partnership that covers Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Midland and Saginaw Counties.

The county-wide and multi-countywide economic development organizations collaborate on talent attraction and retention, site location, asset development, business attraction and more. Below are recent regional good news stories and information.