Introducing our June Company Spotlight – Prairie Farms Dairy!

   Prairie Farms is a cooperative owned by over 600 farming families, dedicated to fresh products, sustainability, and animal care since 1938. Their offerings undergo rigorous quality control and are free from antibiotics and artificial growth hormones. The Prairie Farms Dairy’s Battle Creek facility, situated at 126 Brady Road, is a significant operation within this farmer-owned cooperative, and was established in the Fort Custer Industrial Park in 2003. This plant processes millions of pounds of milk weekly, sourced from 11 local dairy farms, and produces a diverse range of milk products and iced coffee.

In 2018, Prairie Farms invested nearly $29 million to expand the Battle Creek plant, introducing a cutting-edge ultra-high-temperature (UHT) pasteurization line. This advancement makes it the only Prairie Farms facility capable of producing UHT milk products in plastic bottles. The UHT process enhances the shelf life of milk and cream, enabling wider distribution throughout the U.S. In 2024, the Battle Creek plant earned 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards at the World Dairy Expo Product Contest in the Flavored UHT Milk category, showcasing that investing in efficiency does not mean compromising flavor.

Additionally, the local plant engages with organizations to give back to the community – such as the South Michigan Food Bank and Charitable Union. In collaboration with Milk Means More, the Calhoun County Visitors Bureau, and the Battle Creek Community Foundation, the plant also organizes family-friendly events like milk and cookie giveaways, aimed at bringing the community together and promoting the nutritional benefits of dairy. The plant takes pride in sponsoring the city’s yearly “National Cereal Festival,” in addition to supplying the milk, to honor the city’s history.

The Battle Creek facility plays a crucial role in bolstering local agriculture and supplying high-quality dairy products all over the Midwest. Learn more about Prairie Farms, their products, and even get recipes at: https://www.prairiefarms.com/.

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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. BCU manages the Fort Custer Industrial Park, which is home to nearly 90 businesses, including more than two dozen international companies, and employs over 13,000 people. BCU’s mission is to build a strong community by driving strategic investment and job creation in Battle Creek. For more information, visit www.bcunlimited.org

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PRESS RELEASE

DoubleTree by Hilton Battle Creek Wins Hilton’s 2024 Americas Development Award

06/12/2025

BATTLE CREEK, MICH – The DoubleTree by Hilton Battle Creek has been honored with the 2024 Hilton Americas Development Award. This accolade celebrates the achievements of owners, development partners, and hotel teams in various categories throughout the Americas, and serves to highlight the dedication and innovative spirit of Hilton’s owners and team members, who truly embody the meaning of hospitality.

Over the course of the 2024 year, Hilton opened over 400 hotels in the Americas across their brand portfolio. Among these hotels, 49 winners were selected based on several criteria including commitment to quality projects and impact on local communities, among others. The DoubleTree by Hilton Battle Creek won in the DoubleTree brand in the Conversion category.

President & CEO of BCU, Joe Sobieralski, stated: “We’re honored to be recognized for this redevelopment effort that plays a key role in driving economic growth in downtown Battle Creek. Revitalizing this property was about more than just a building—it was about creating jobs, attracting investment, and building momentum for the future of our city. This wouldn’t have been possible without the commitment of our community and partners, whose support turned vision into reality. We’re thankful to Hilton for the recognition and congratulate our fellow honorees.”

Opening in October of 2024, the DoubleTree by Hilton Battle Creek was made possible with over $50 million in contributions from 13 community partners. Formerly the McCamly hotel, the property features a completely renovated and modern space with 247 rooms including suites, a full-service restaurant (“The Alloy”), a high-rise bar and lounge with sweeping city views (“50 Beacon”), over 16,000 square feet of meeting & event space. The property is also situated on an attractive green space in the heart of Downtown Battle Creek. In addition to serving as an attractive destination for guests and the public, it also serves as a teaching hotel to advance hospitality careers and educational opportunities with key local partners and educational institutions.

You can learn more about the hotel, room booking, and events on the official Hilton website for the property at: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/azocrdt-doubletree-battle-creek/.

Learn more about the awards here: https://stories.hilton.com/releases/winners-of-hiltons-2024-americas-development-awards-announced.

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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 over 80 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.

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We’re excited to kick off our Company Spotlight series with Gallagher Uniform.

Founded in 1893 in Detroit as “Detroit Waste Works, Inc.,” Gallagher Uniform opened a second plant in Battle Creek in 1937 to service Kellogg Company uniforms. While Detroit remained the primary location until 1975, Battle Creek became Gallagher’s official home after the Detroit operation was sold. Since then, their focus on customer satisfaction, personalized service, and a wide selection of workwear has earned them a trusted name in the industry for over 130 years.

Now five generations strong, this family-owned business provides custom uniforms, safety apparel, corporate wear, and facility services like floor mats, towels, and restroom supplies. They serve a wide range of industries with their rentals, including healthcare, pharmaceutical, food manufacturing, automotive, and general manufacturing, across West and Mid-Michigan, Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Northern Indiana. Their focus? Durability, comfort, and professionalism.

Gallagher Uniform has built a reputation as a reliable partner for businesses to present a polished image while keeping employees looking and feeling their best.

Gallagher isn’t just dedicated to its customers, they’re deeply invested in their people and community, too. From supporting local organizations like the United Way and the Battle Creek Community Foundation to expanding their facility for greater efficiency, they’re always working to grow the right way. They’re also proud members of key industry networks

like Apparel Services Network, CSC Network, and TRSA, so they’re always learning, innovating, and bringing those best practices back to the businesses they serve. Their dedication to fostering a robust company culture, emphasizing the employee experience, reflects their foundational values. This commitment guarantees that, alongside delivering a high-quality product, they also offer an exceptional place to work right here in Battle Creek.

To discover more about Gallagher Uniform, including their services and multi-generational history, visit their website at: https://www.gallagheruniform.com/.

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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. BCU manages the Fort Custer Industrial Park, which is home to nearly 90 businesses, including more than two dozen international companies, and employs over 13,000 people. BCU’s mission is to build a strong community by driving strategic investment and job creation in Battle Creek. For more information, visit www.bcunlimited.org

 MEDIA CONTACT – COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

BATTLE CREEK, MICH – Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU), has been awarded a 2024 Mac Conway Award for Excellence in Economic Development by Site Selection Magazine. The award is named for Conway Data founder Mac Conway was created to “recognize the efforts of those who worked tirelessly to bring projects large and small to their communities.”

Economic development organizations who receive the award are being recognized for their diligence in attracting new projects of all sizes to their communities for the greater good of the entire region. Organizations were determined by an index of corporate facility investment according to Site Selection Magazine’s Conway Projects database. Six criteria determined scoring: total projects, total investment and jobs associated with those projects, and per-capita calculations by those same metrics.

BCU was chosen based on a wide range of projects of all sizes including the expansions and future investments made by WK Kellogg Co, Denso, United Federal Credit Union, SJS Electric, New Holland Brewing, and Duncan Aviation. The Battle Creek Food Reimagined (BCFR) initiative was also recognized as a community-led effort and inclusive food innovation hub for food and beverage start-ups in Battle Creek. Additionally, Ford Motor Company Blue Oval project located in Marshall, part of the Battle Creek Metro Area, which was spearheaded by the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance (MAEDA) and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) was highlighted.

President & CEO of BCU, Joe Sobieralski, stated: “BCU is honored to receive the Mac Conway Award. This award reflects the hard work that our team has put in to promote growth and prosperity in Battle Creek and the value of our partnerships in the community and throughout the state. Prosperity is a team sport in Calhoun County, and I also want to acknowledge our partners MAEDA and the MEDC on their monumental success with Ford Motor Company. As part of the Battle Creek Metropolitan Area the Ford project signifies that our area will continue to rise and set the pace for the region, and we look forward to continued growth in the years to come. We thank Site Selection Magazine for the recognition and award, but also recognize MEADA and the MEDC’s role in bringing the Ford project to the region.”

Site Selection Magazine is published by Conway Data Inc and began publication in 1883. Since then it has grown to reach over 45,000 readers across business, consulting, and real estate. It serves as the leading publication in corporate real estate, economic development, site planning, and direct investment. The Mac Conway award was created in 2016 and replaces the former Top Groups award for the publication.

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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 over 80 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