February 13, 2023
BATTLE CREEK, MICH. – Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) applauds the Ford Motor Co.’s decision to build its next battery manufacturing facility on the Marshall Mega Site, located in Calhoun County, Michigan. Ford and its partner Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) are expected to invest approximately $3.5 billion in the new facility, which will manufacture lithium iron phosphate batteries for electric vehicles. Ford anticipates the facility will create 2,500 new jobs.
BCU commends the Michigan Economic Development Corp (MEDC), the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance (MEDA), Choose Marshall, the City of Marshall, Marshall Township, Calhoun County, the City of Battle Creek, and the many other organizations that have worked tirelessly for the last several years to market this property.
The Marshall Mega Site is located 10 miles from Battle Creek, between Detroit and Chicago. BCU serves as the lead economic development organization for the City of Battle Creek and manages the Fort Custer Industrial Park. The park is home to nearly 90 companies, including automotive suppliers like DENSO, Magna, and Adient. It is also home to battery companies like BASF Toda America, which manufactures cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries, and Camel Energy, a lead acid battery manufacturer.
BCU President & CEO Joe Sobieralski said, “This investment has the potential to attract thousands of new residents and ancillary investments to the region, which would increase property tax revenues and income tax revenues. The increased revenue will support public safety, schools, and other high priority local initiatives. We applaud the leadership of Governor Whitmer, the state legislature, and the MEDC for establishing the SOAR fund, a bipartisan game-changing fund for economic development and the state of Michigan. BCU will continue to advocate to the state of Michigan and the MEDC to continue to evolve the SOAR fund to be utilized by regions for community development needs where these mega projects land throughout the state.”
In recent years, BCU has accelerated its community development efforts, especially in downtown. Since 2018, BCU has attracted $287 million in capital investment to Battle Creek and created over 800 new high-paying jobs. BCU has facilitated the opening of two new breweries and has led efforts to revitalize hundreds of thousands of square feet of commercial property, supporting numerous small businesses and housing opportunities. Most recently, BCU has acquired a 247-room hotel in downtown and is in the process of converting it to a DoubleTree by Hilton, a full-service hotel with over 20,000 square feet of meeting and event space. The hotel, expected to be open in mid-2024, will significantly increase the vibrancy of downtown Battle Creek. BCU is also working with local partners to add additional housing to the region in anticipation of future growth.
The Fort Custer Industrial Park is the largest industrial park in the state and has hundreds of acres available for development. The park is fully built out with utilities and well-positioned for any growth which the Ford announcement might bring.
Looking ahead, BCU will accelerate its community development efforts to support this project and position Battle Creek for future prosperity. BCU looks forward to working with local partners including the MEDC, MAEDA, the City of Marshall, Calhoun County, Michigan Works! Southwest, and Kellogg Community College and many others to support these efforts. BCU is also committed to supporting local employers in Battle Creek and will work to ensure that their needs are equally supported.
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ABOUT BATTLE CREEK UNLIMITED
Established in 1972, Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) is a private, non-profit corporation which serves as the economic development arm for the City of Battle Creek and manages the Fort Custer Industrial Park. The Fort Custer Industrial Park is home to almost 90 businesses, including 25 international companies, and employs over 13,000 people. BCU’s mission is to build a strong community by driving strategic investment and job creation. Visit BCUnlimited.org for more info.
MEDIA CONTACT
Joe Sobieralski, President & CEO
Battle Creek Unlimited
269-962-7526
sobieralski@bcunlimited.org
