SAGINAW FUTURE DEVELOPMENT NEWSLETTER |
|
Food Process Solutions Purchases BV Building |
Food Process Solutions (FPS) is a global leader of turnkey industrial freezing and cooking equipment based in Richmond, BC. Incorporated in 2010, FPS has a combined 450,000 sq. ft. of space including its Canadian Headquarters, 10 manufacturing and warehouse facilities as well as international sales offices across five continents. FPS’ ties to Michigan developed through a joint venture established two years ago focused on installation of its equipment. In response to rapid growth and market demand, corporate leadership authorized the purchase of a vacant 130,000 sq. ft. industrial facility in Buena Vista Charter Township. Phase 1 of its expansion plans is the investment of $6 million in building acquisition and improvements. SFI will be assisting the community and company with a tax incentive. The company plans to hire 25 people by the end of 2022.
|
|
Gemini Capital Management Redevelops Merrill School House |
|
Gemini Capital Management VIII, LLC is redeveloping a former schoolhouse located at 235 W. Saginaw St. and 135 S. Eddy St. in the Village of Merrill. The underutilized building will be redeveloped in 17 market rate apartments operated by Gemini Capital. The anticipated investment is more than $4 million with six jobs retained and 50 temporary construction jobs during the redevelopment phase. A Michigan Community Revitalization Program performance-based loan for $1,920,000 and the Act 381 Work Plan was approved by the Michigan Strategic Fund Board on February 22, 2022. SFI assisted the company through all the processes to get a Saginaw County Brownfield plan approved and a Commercial Rehabilitation tax incentive approved through the Village of Merrill and County of Saginaw. The county and local incentives were instrumental and needed to get the Michigan Strategic Fund incentive approved.
|
|
Hausbeck Pickles and Peppers Adds New Line |
|
Hausbeck Pickle and Peppers, located in the City of Saginaw, invested nearly $2 million in machinery and equipment for a stand-up packaging line. The new project not only packages pickles and peppers it also produces the packaging on site. The lightweight, space saving containers will reduce waste and increase efficiency to help the company stay competitive in the market. Saginaw Future is currently working with the City of Saginaw on a Michigan Department of Transportation – Transportation Economic Development Fund grant to improve Hess Ave. where Hausbeck is located.
|
|
Frank’s Muth Opens in the City of Frankenmuth |
|
Frank’s Muth is a new shop in the heart of Downtown Frankenmuth and offers an uncommon collection of gifts including a variety of specialty popcorn, hot sauce bar, novelty socks and man cave items. It also serves cocktails at its indoor bar and patio. A $300,000 investment resulted in a newly renovated facility and 13 team members were hired.
|
|
KOOPS Automation Systems Purchases Wright-K |
KOOPS Automation Systems, a designer and builder of innovative automation systems and equipment for manufacturers, has purchased Wright-K Technology, Inc., a long-established designer, builder and rebuilder of custom industrial machinery. The integration of Wright-K and Koops will position the company to provide its customers a broader portfolio of solutions. Founded in Holland in 1989, Koops offers full service and support for each of its automation systems, and tailors them to its clients’ unique specifications across a broad array of industries. Koops’ systems deliver product with consistent quality and production rate. By incorporating the latest robotic and motion control technology, coupled with innovative tooling design, the company provides a flexible environment that is unmatched in high-volume production of quality parts. For the co-owners of Wright-K Technology, Connie Kostrzewa and John Sivey, integration with Koops achieves their goals of continuing service to employees, customers and their community. Wright-K’s workforce will be retained. Saginaw Future has worked with Wright-K for numerous years and recently it was awarded with a MEDC Training Equipment Grant. SFI is also assisting through the transition process and will connect the company to local and state resources for its successful growth here in the Great Lakes Bay Region.
|
|
|
|
 |
EE Sports and Arcade Opening in Downtown Saginaw |
EE Sports & Arcade is a new Downtown Saginaw business that partially opened in March. It began offering sessions for the Golf Simulator, a unique experience not offered anywhere else in Saginaw County. The Bancroft building storefront on E. Genesee Ave. will become a fully outfitted arcade scheduled to open in June, along with a new restaurant. The outfitting of the space and purchase of equipment for the arcade resulted in an investment of $194,000 and the project will create 16 jobs. This is the second Saginaw Sugar Beets storefront in the Bancroft with additional first floor developments to come.
|
|
|
|
Deadhart Escape Room Adds New Entertainment |
Deadhart LLC Escape Room is an entertainment-based business located in Downtown Saginaw. The company purchased a vacant building located at 906 Lapeer Ave. Deadhart offers four fully immersive escape rooms, a 3D black light gellyball arena, axe throwing and a haunted house. It provides private events, corporate team building sessions and birthday packages.
Saginaw Future facilitated access to financing through the Saginaw Economic Development Corporation. Deadhart invested $130,000 and four jobs were created.
|
|
|
|
Great Lakes Natural Remedies Expands in the City of Saginaw |
Great Lakes Natural Remedies is a Michigan based cannabis company that is a building a new store on Court St. in the City of Saginaw. The project includes the remediation of the vacant site and development of a new facility and parking area, scheduled to open this spring. This is the second Saginaw County facility for Great Lakes and is an investment of $1 million with the creation of 12 good paying jobs. SFI assisted the business through the City’s planning and zoning process.
|
|
|
|
|
READ Association of Saginaw County to Expand |
READ Association of Saginaw County is expanding into an additional office suite at the Jefferson One Building in Downtown Saginaw. READ was founded in 1966 with the mission to help students improve reading skills and discover the joy of reading. The new space will house The Family Literacy Center allowing the organization to offer many programs on-site as well as continue to offerings at community partner locations. The project will include an investment of approximately $75,000 and be completed in late Summer. This expansion will create two new jobs and retain four. Saginaw Future assisted the organization with a $25,000 MEDC Match on Main grant for the purchase of furniture and technology equipment for the project. STARS is providing $100,000 worth of transportation services to accommodate the expansion.
|
|
|
|
AKT Peerless Completes Exterior Work & Expands |
AKT Peerless is a long-standing Saginaw company that recently completed major exterior work in its Downtown Saginaw location. The approximately $90,000 investment focused on the restoration of the exterior brickwork on the building that was constructed in 1948. The renovations were completed to preserve the exterior and prevent any further deterioration of the building.
SFI assisted the project through the Saginaw DDA’s façade grant program.
AKT also recently announced the acquisition of Superior Environmental Corp. that was headquartered Grand Rapids. It is a strategic move to increase the range of environmental expertise and broaden the company’s geographic footprint. This will likely result in additional AKT Peerless jobs.
|
|
|
|
Millions in Government Contracting |
Saginaw Future Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) assists businesses in identifying and securing government contracts. In the second quarter, the PTAC assisted 24 regional companies that won 106 government contracts valued at more than $9.3 million.
The federal government is a multi-billion dollar purchaser of goods and services. States and local governments are also major purchasers of products and services. To ensure that Saginaw County businesses have access to these contracts, the Region 5 PTAC was created. The organization is a sub-center of the Northwest Michigan PTAC and services Saginaw, Arenac, Bay, Clare, Isabella, Gladwin, Gratiot and Midland Counties. Housed at Saginaw Future offices, the PTAC can help you understand and take advantage of government contracting opportunities. By expanding your market, your firm will become more diversified and strengthen your customer base.
The Saginaw Future PTAC provides NO FEE assistance to businesses that are interested in tapping this market. We can help your business acquire federal and state government contracts.
|
|
|
|
Grants Supporting Businesses and New Projects |
|
Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Community Revitalization Program - the Michigan Strategic Fund awarded Gemini Capital Management VIII, LLC a $1.92 million Community Revitalization Program loan/grant.
MEDC Training Equipment Grants - the Michigan Legislature provided funding for a program called the Training Center Equipment Grant program. The MEDC provided Saginaw Future with $110,963 in funding, which was to be used for eligible applicants purchasing training equipment in Saginaw and Bay Counties. The MEDC provided an application form and a link was shared by Saginaw Future and Bay Future, Inc. (BFI) to many potential eligible applicants.
Six applications were received and a review panel from SFI, BFI and MI Works reviewed and scored the applications. Funds were awarded to the following companies:
- General Motors Saginaw Metal Casting Operations - $25,000
- Hemlock Semiconductor - $45,000
- JetTool (aka, Chesaning Manufacturing) - $25,000
- Wright K Technologies - $10,645
Saginaw Valley State University/Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (MMTC) Industry 4.0 Grants - with funds provided by the MEDC the MMTC awarded grants to:
- Amigo Mobility International - $10,000
- Bay Machining & Sales - $5,000
- Kremin Inc. - $10,000
MEDC Match on Main- Saginaw Future assisted READ Association of Saginaw County with a grant through MEDC. The organization was awarded $25,000 toward the purchase of furniture and technology equipment for the project.
MEDC STEP-SFI connects Saginaw County companies to the MEDC for State Trade Export Program grants. These grants assist the company with funds to help increase export sales through various means including trade show attendance costs, exhibitor costs, website development, international marketing materials and travel. The following companies received assistance in the 2022 program year: Duperon Corp., Amigo Mobility, Banner-Day, Homestead Elements , Endurance Carbide and Fullerton Tool.
|
|
Saginaw Soup Celebrates Entrepreneurs |
|
The Saginaw Soup is an entrepreneurial pitch competition in Saginaw County. The goals are to increase entrepreneurship in Saginaw and provide resources to participants.
The program works with entrepreneurs to develop their idea and/or small business to ultimately pitch the concept to the community to win additional support. The most recent Saginaw Soup Pitch Competition was held on Thursday, May 20, 2022 at CMURC in the SVRC Marketplace and four small businesses made presentations.
The winners were:
1st place: Self-love, Self-respect and Sisterhood (S3) - $2,000
2nd place: Gibbs Music Studio - $1,500
3rd place: Soet I.C.E. – Free weekend booth at SVRC Marketplace.
The event sponsors were Huntington Bank, Wildfire Credit Union, Bridgeport Charter Township and COPOCO Community Credit Union.
Saginaw Soup organizers include representatives from Saginaw Future Inc., the City of Saginaw, Central Michigan University Research Center (CMURC), Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Development Center, Saginaw Downtown Development Authority, Bridgeport Downtown Development Authority and Saginaw Economic Development Corporation.
The next pitch competition will be in October 2022.
|
|
Saginaw Future's Outstanding Investors! |
|
Explore Our 2021 Annual Report |
|
Saginaw Future Inc. | 989-754-8222
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
