October 3, 2018

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. – In September, Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) was awarded a Defense Industry Growth Area Grant for $150,000 by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). The grant is part of the Michigan Defense Center’s Protect & Grow Initiative, which seeks to grow the state’s defense sector.

BCU will use the grant money to assess Battle Creek’s existing aerospace infrastructure and position the city to attract investment from companies developing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), more commonly referred to as drones. Funds will also be used to identify business opportunities for local companies if/when Battle Creek is designated as the site for the proposed missile defense site.

The Defense Industry Growth Area Grant is intended to expand and grow key defense and homeland security sectors in Michigan, including 3D printing, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, autonomous aerial systems, autonomous ground systems, cybersecurity and robotics. The grant is for a period of one year beginning September 30.

BCU adopted a new five-year strategic plan in August. The plan identifies several priority growth sectors, including Aviation & Defense. The plan seeks to leverage Battle Creek’s existing assets, such as the WK Kellogg Airport, which has more than 250 acres of land with runway access available for development.

The Fort Custer Training Center is one of three sites being considered for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) installation. A total of 44 Ground-based Interceptors have already been installed at Fort Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

Joe Sobieralski, President & CEO of BCU, remarked, “Battle Creek is hitting this at exactly the right moment. The Defense Industry Growth Area Grant aligns perfectly with BCU’s newly adopted strategic plan and we are excited to partner with the MEDC on this effort. We believe that autonomous aerial vehicles are the future of the aerospace industry and Battle Creek has the right assets in place to attract companies to the region.” Mr. Sobieralski added that “if Fort Custer is chosen for the missile defense site, there will be significant demand for business services. BCU is committed to helping Battle Creek companies take full advantage of this opportunity.”

“We are very pleased that BCU submitted and were awarded an Emerging Growth Industry Grant,” said Sean Carlson, Executive Director of the MEDC’s Michigan Defense Center. “Battle Creek Unlimited is home to two significant military assets in our state.  Also, Fort Custer is a finalist for a new Department of Defense mission named the East Coast Missile Defense System.  Their solid proposal and this grant will help them to continue to grow the defense industry in Michigan.”

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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 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.

ABOUT MICHIGAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn , and Twitter.

CONTACT

Joe Sobieralski, President & CEO
Battle Creek Unlimited
TEL 269-962-7526

Mark Ignash, Program Manager, Defense Operations
Michigan Economic Development Corporation
TEL 517-241-8596

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

PRESS RELEASE
September 12, 2018

Dennis Group Opening New Office in Downtown Battle Creek 

• Battle Creek selected for the company’s first Midwest office
• Plans to hire 60 people over 3 years

Battle Creek, Michigan – Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) is pleased to announce that Dennis Group will expand into downtown Battle Creek. The company provides design, engineering, and construction management services for the food and beverage industry. Dennis Group expects to invest more than $600,000 and hire more than 65 employees over the next 3 years.

Dennis Group was established in 1987 and is based in Springfield, Massachusetts. The company employs approximately 425 people worldwide and has branch offices in Salt Lake City, Utah; San Diego, California; Atlanta, Georgia; Toronto, Canada; São Paulo, Brazil; and Porto, Portugal.

Dennis Group is leasing office space at 49 West Michigan Avenue. The building, which previously housed the International Food Protection Training Institute, is centrally located in historic downtown Battle Creek, a block away from the headquarters of the Kellogg Company.

Robert C. Miller, Business Development for Dennis Group said, “This is an exciting time at Dennis Group. We once again maintained our rank as the largest food design firm in the country through continued year over year double digit revenue growth. The key to fueling that growth is retaining and recruiting top talent. Having lived and worked in Battle Creek most of my life I know the skilled and hardworking people in the region will be a great asset. We are also pleased to be in close proximity to top manufacturers we have worked with for decades who call Southern Michigan home.

Anmar Atchu, Vice President of The Hinman Company, which owns the building, remarked, “I cannot say enough about the public/private partnership. When you can sit down in a room and walk away with a handshake agreement and watch it come to fruition, it speaks volumes. Working with Dennis Group leadership and BCU, we (Hinman) could not be more excited for this win for Battle Creek.”

“BCU will provide a performance-based incentive to Dennis Group over the next three years to support their expansion in Battle Creek. This support will be dispersed as the company meets employment benchmarks,” stated BCU President & CEO Joe Sobieralski. “Dennis Group has a sterling reputation as one of the leading design-build firms specializing in food and beverage facilities. Based on the companies here in Battle Creek, this is the perfect location for their Midwest office.”

Before choosing Battle Creek, Dennis Group considered Chicago, Illinois and Fort Wayne, Indiana. The company will be hiring a mix of professional engineering, project management, and administrative positions. The company plans to begin recruiting employees immediately. Interested applicants can visit dennisgroup.com/careers.

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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.

CONTACT
Joe Sobieralski, President & CEO
Battle Creek Unlimited
sobieralski@bcunlimited.org
269-962-7526

PRESS RELEASE, August 27, 2018


Plan identifies key growth sectors and attraction strategy
 

Battle Creek, Mich – Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) released a new plan for the organization’s next five years. BCU’s strategic plan spells out how the organization will prioritize its human & capital resources and outlines specific metrics by which success will be measured. By July 2023, BCU’s goal is to generate $250 million in new capital investment in Battle Creek and create 750 new jobs paying an average of $17 per hour.

The strategic plan was developed with input from BCU staff and board members, as well as members of the Battle Creek business community. The plan addresses industries with deep roots in Battle Creek while also including new sectors which leverage the region’s strengths. The new plan identifies five key growth industries:

• Automotive/OEM Supply Chain
• Aviation/Defense
• Food/Beverage
• Logistics/Services
• Energy Storage

The document discusses Battle Creek’s strategic advantages, including its location, cost of living, existing company base and history of successfully attracting investment. BCU calls special attention to the role the military and the federal government play in Battle Creek. As a part of the Strategic Plan, BCU acknowledges the importance of workforce development and community development. The plan also emphasizes BCU’s commitment to partner with the City of Battle Creek, the Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce, the public schools and other community organizations.

BCU President & CEO Joe Sobieralski said, “Since 1972, BCU has had unparalleled success attracting companies and creating jobs in Battle Creek. Today the Fort Custer Industrial Park is the largest facility of its kind in Michigan and is home to more than 80 companies employing over 13,000 people. Our new strategic plan will continue this tradition of growth while expanding BCU’s focus to include next-generation technologies like drones and batteries. We also recognize the need for greater engagement on issues like housing, education, workforce, and placemaking – all of which are pillars of comprehensive economic development. BCU will deploy its resources to make Battle Creek a vibrant community.”

John Gallagher, Chair of the BCU’s Board of Directors said, “The BCU board is very pleased with the BCU strategic plan. It offers a unique blend of our winning strategy along with practical knowledge of the Battle Creek Unlimited success story.  The board is also very proud of the entire BCU staff for their team effort in putting this plan together.  Clearly, this will be an outstanding tool for the growth of Battle Creek.”

Download a copy of our Strategic Plan here.

About Battle Creek Unlimited
Established in 1972, 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.

Media Contact
Joe Sobieralski, President & CEO
Battle Creek Unlimited

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