Businesses in Battle Creek thrive in the global economy because of an incredible infrastructure that meets and exceeds the physical, technological and transportation system needs across multiple industries.
An exceptional industrial park, easy access to multiple major highways, fiber telecommunications, a local airport and another 5 international airports within about 100 miles provides businesses with a convenient location to move or start their business. More than forty trucking lines provide service to the area.
Learn more about us here.
Fort Custer Industrial Park is a world-class industrial park that is home to 25 international-based companies. These businesses include 18 Japan, 3 Germany, 1 Austria, 2 Canada, and 1 Denmark based companies.
International businesses choose Battle Creek for many reasons, some of which include our Foreign-Trade Zone, proximity to large logistics hubs between Chicago, Detroit, and Northern Indiana, and the diverse workforce and talent.
View the entire directory of international companies here.
Battle Creek offers a 3,000-acre industrial park that is home to more than 80 companies, including 25 international businesses. Fort Custer Industrial Park offers low land prices with hundreds of acres available there, as well as at the Airport. This includes shovel-ready sites and infrastructure that is already in place.
Companies are choosing Battle Creek because of the size of our immediate workforce, and that of surrounding communities. Employers in the area are able to pull from an approximate workforce of 740,000 people who are part of a population of over 1.9 million within a one-hour commute and 60-mile radius, respectively. In fact, the average commute for those working in Battle Creek is about 20 minutes.
Key industry sectors are diverse, which provide opportunities for workforce training & development, diversification and collaboration among all businesses here in Battle Creek and beyond.
Learn more about the demographics and how your business can take advantage of all that we have to offer and contact us today.
Financial incentives are a key factor in determining your business location. BCU will guide you through various state and local funding opportunities to customize an incentive package for your organization. Several incentives are available based on job creation and investment.
Direct Investment Fund
This is a fund that can provide up to $500,000 or 50% of start-up capital at advantageous rates. Learn more about all of the different incentives and financing options available for companies who choose Battle Creek.
Review all of the different and creative financial incentives we can assist you with here.
Port of Battle Creek
The Port of Battle Creek, Michigan, is an uncongested inland port of entry, where imports clear Customs in a timely manner. Unlike larger coastal ports, goods may arrive in the morning, be cleared by U.S. Customs, then move to the factory floor by afternoon. The Port of Battle Creek is midway between Detroit and Chicago on the I-94 transportation corridor. Sixty-percent of both U.S. and Canadian consumer markets can be reached by overnight shipping from Battle Creek.
Companies conducting international trade from Battle Creek benefit from the efficient services of the U.S. Customs Port of Entry and Foreign-Trade Zone #43 located in Fort Custer Industrial Park. Learn about the potential advantages of using the Inland Port of Entry and more information about Foreign-Trade Zone benefits here.
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Local Companies
“The City of Battle Creek is a superb place to be in business because of the specialized and individualized support offered by Battle Creek Unlimited and its staff. BCU offers the highest level of customer service to make sure all current and future businesses are successful. They go above and beyond to put Battle Creek on the map globally for business recruitment and retention as well as manage and nurture one of the finest industrial parks in the world, Fort Custer. The City of Battle Creek couldn’t ask for a better partner!”
“For Kellogg, Battle Creek is home. It’s where our founder created the first flake of cereal more than a century ago, and its where our global headquarters and research and development center remain today. Conveniently set between two major cities – Detroit and Chicago – Battle Creek is a prime location for business. And with easy access to the Great Lakes and four seasons of outdoor activities, it’s an ideal location for employees to live, work, and play.”
“The Kellogg Community College (KCC) Regional Manufacturing Technology Center (RMTC) is an innovative training facility in the Fort Custer Industrial Park. The facility is home to Industrial Trades and Workforce Solutions teams. Together, these departments design on-demand programs to meet the employee training needs of area business and industry. The flexible innovative approach to hands-on training enables the RMTC to respond to training needs quickly and efficiently. Training is available to individuals on a year-round walk-in basis or can be scheduled to meet production and service schedules. For over twenty-five years KCC’s RMTC has partnered with BCU, and BCTIFA has provided remarkable ongoing financial support towards the expansion of the outstanding RMTC facility and programs.”
“Gallagher Uniform has resided in the Fort Custer Industrial Park since 1991. Battle Creek Unlimited and the City of Battle Creek were instrumental in our move here. Our success continues today with these important partners, who ensure the park is well maintained, safe, and delivering the resources necessary. The Fort Custer location has been ideal to reach our customers throughout Michigan and Indiana. The surrounding natural environment also provides great recreational opportunities for our associates to enjoy outside of work.”
Founded in 1893, Gallagher Uniform is a 5th generation, family business specializing in uniform programs, mats, towels and facility services for business and industry.”
“During our past 24 years of operation in Battle Creek, BCU has been a valuable business partner to both Kal Aero and Duncan Aviation. BCU was instrumental in both the initial move to the W.K. Kellogg Airport by Kal Aero in 1992 and a major expansion of Duncan Aviation in 2005.”
In December of 2003, Prairie Farms Dairy, a farm coop, opened it’s 35th manufacturing plant with the assistance of Battle Creek Unlimited. The staff at BCU engineered the sale of a closed Kellogg plant to Prairie Farms Dairy to convert to a milk and juice bottling plant for Prairie Farms’ Michigan members. Since 2003, we have expanded production and BCU was there to assist in moving each project through the regulatory process. 2017 will see the beginning of our next and largest expansion phase to date. BCU is already involved helping things move forward, smoothly.
Prairie Farms Dairy was deciding between Kalamazoo, Lansing or Battle Creek to establish its base in Michigan. Without the staff of BCU and the excellent facilities of Fort Custer Industrial Park, Prairie Farms Dairy would not be in Battle Creek today. We would not have had the excellent facility that has allowed Prairie Farms to continue to grow its business at our current pace.”