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Wednesday, January 10, 2018Battle Creek, Mich. – Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) is pleased to announce that the McCamly Plaza Hotel will officially become a Hilton DoubleTree branded hotel. After an extensive renovation in excess of $3,500,000, underwritten by the Direct Investment Fund (DIF), the number of hotel rooms will be reduced from 239 to 179. In addition, the owners plan to add approximately 50 apartment units, including some that may be furnished as Corporate Apartments as part of the renovation. Renovations of the hotel are expected to be completed by fall of 2018.
The DIF is a revolving loan fund managed by BCU for the purpose of generating jobs and investment in Battle Creek. DIF funds are also invested in the Heritage Tower project in downtown Battle Creek.
BCU President & CEO Joe Sobieralski is excited for this announcement. “It is tremendously important that we have a large international hotel brand in downtown Battle Creek,” stated Sobieralski. “Converting it to a Hilton property is a proud moment for our community as we continue to work to build a brighter future for downtown Battle Creek.”
FRA Investors/NDF Battle Creek, LLC, an affiliate of Chicago based Aries Capital, LLC, became the sole owner of the McCamly Hotel in 2017. Aries affiliated companies have a significant portfolio of hotel properties across the country. According to Neil Freeman, Chairman of Aries Capital, “We are excited to bring the quality of Hilton and Doubletree to downtown Battle Creek. The new restaurant, bar, pool, fitness center and lobby will become the place to be in Battle Creek. We believe adding the urban style apartments to the hotel will bring 24 hour life to downtown.”
Since its opening in the fall of 1981, The McCamly Plaza has gone through several ownership and name changes, but it has always remained a staple in Battle Creek. Battle Creek Unlimited is proud to play a role in continuing that heritage.About Battle Creek Unlimited
Battle Creek Unlimited is a private, non-profit corporation which serves as the economic development organization for the City of Battle Creek. Battle Creek Unlimited is committed to building a strong community by driving strategic investment and job creation.Media Contacts:
Joe Sobieralski, BCU President & CEO
269-962-7526
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News & Announcements
Economic Outlook 2018 Invitation
Friday, January 05, 2018
RSVP by February 1st, to Paula Young at 269 441-1667 or young@bcunlimited.org
Click on the link below for a copy of the invitation:
Economic Outlook 2018 Invitation
We look forward to seeing everyone there!
Prairie Farms building $29 million expansion to Battle Creek facility
Prairie Farms building $29 million expansion to Battle Creek facility
Thursday, January 04, 2018
Prairie Farms Dairy Inc. is investing nearly $29 million in a state-of-the-art addition to its Battle Creek facility.
It will be Prairie Farms’s only bottling plant that will produce ultra-high-temperature pasteurized milk products, which will give them additional shelf life...READ MORE HERE
Janesville Acoustics
Thursday, December 21, 2017
Janesville Acoustics is moving 79 jobs to Battle Creek.
Janesville Acoustics located in the Fort Custer Industrial Park in closing down it’s Richmond, Indiana facility…READ MORE HERE
Request for Proposal: Distillers, Brewers Brew & Pubs
Thursday, December 21, 2017
Are you the newest great Midwest Brewery, Brew Pub or Distillery?
Are you looking to grow into another market?
If so, Battle Creek Unlimited is looking for you.
Click on the RFP link below to find the Request for Proposal (RFP):
Deadline for submission is March 2nd.
Joe Sobieralski, President & CEO, Contract Extension
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Friday, December 15, 2017NEWS
For Immediate ReleaseEffective Immediately
Continuity to Continue at BCU
Battle Creek, Mich. – December 14, 2017 – The Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the contract extension of Joe Sobieralski as President & CEO. Sobieralski joined BCU in December of 2015, as Vice President and was quickly appointed Interim President & CEO. In October of 2016, the Interim title was removed and Sobieralski has been at the helm ever since.
According to John Gallagher, BCU Board Chair, “Battle Creek Unlimited has finally turned the corner with Joe’s leadership. He has succeeded in accomplishing the initial goals he and the board established, which resulted in a very good performance evaluation. With his talented team, BCU is poised to bring greater economic growth and prosperity to Battle Creek. We look forward to some exciting wins in this next year.”
“I have enjoyed working with Joe over the past year and am impressed with his energy, knowledge and relationship building” stated Rebecca Fleury, City Manager for the City of Battle Creek. “He has put together a great team at BCU and his contract extension will allow them to broaden the success of the Fort Custer Industrial Park and continue to transform economic development in the City of Battle Creek.”
“I am excited to continue playing a vital role in shaping the future of Battle Creek” said Joe Sobieralski, BCU President & CEO. “We have seen great success this past year with a new company breaking ground in the Fort Custer Industrial Park for the first time in almost 8 years. Working closely with community partners, we look forward to this being the first of many successes. Over the last year, I have seen the BCU staff grow and expand into a cohesive and dedicated team leading the charge while cultivating a climate of economic development. While no one can predict the future, I would say the best is yet to come!”
Sobieralski’s contract has been extended until June, 2021.
About Battle Creek Unlimited
Battle Creek Unlimited is a private, non-profit corporation which serves as an economic development organization for the City of Battle Creek. Battle Creek Unlimited is focused on building a strong community by driving strategic investment and job creation.Media Contacts:
John Gallagher, BCU Board Chair
269-209-1564 jgallagher@GallagherUniform.com
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Request for Proposals on Downtown Buildings
Friday, December 15, 2017
Battle Creek Unlimited seeks request for proposals from reputable, experienced developers who have the interest and capacity to revitalize downtown properties at: 15 Carlyle Street, 64 W. Michigan Avenue, and 119 W. Michigan Avenue.
Interested parties should click on the links below for the request for proposal information for each property:
Proposals will be accepted through Friday, March 2, 2018.
Eight Battle Creek firms receive $325,000 for worker training from state
Eight Battle Creek firms receive $325,000 for worker training from state
Tuesday, December 05, 2017
Eight companies with a presence in Battle Creek have been awarded more than $325,000 collectively form the State of Michigan to develop the local workforce…READ MORE HERE
Battle Creek’s National Guard 110th Attack Wing receives prestigious unit award
Tuesday, December 05, 2017
Battle Creek’s National Guard 110th Attack Wing receives prestigious unit award
by NEWSCHANNEL 3
The 110th Attack Wing of the National Guard in Battle Creek received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. —
For it’s work with remotely piloted aircraft and cyber defense operations, the 110th Attack Wing of the National Guard, at the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, received an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.
“The 110th Attack Wing is honored to have received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, which clearly demonstrates the outstanding accomplishments of our incredible team of Airmen,” Col. Bryan Teff, commander of the 110th, said in a written announcement on the award.
“They’re performing more relevant work than ever,” Teff said.
The award was authorized by Department of the Air Force General Order 1, Jan. 6, 1954, and is given to units that perform exceptionally meritorious service. The Secretary of the Air Force selected the 110th for the honor, for the work the unit performed from Jan. 1, 2015 to Dec. 31, 2016. It’s the seventh time the 110th has received the honor in its 70-year history. The last award came in 2005 to recognize the Wing’s participation in homeland security missions following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, as well as contingency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“The last time we received this type of recognition was over fifteen years ago,” Teff said. “There have been many ups and downs for our organization since then, but the Airmen of the 110th have always proven able to capitalize on our existing missions with elite performance. Receiving this award is just another sign that the future is bright for the 110th Attack Wing.”
Teff also said the award affirms the unit’s new, high-tech missions after a period of uncertainty. The base was projected to close in 2005 as a part of the Base Realignment and Closer commission (BRAC).
The 110th Attack Wing’s citation specifically mentions the organization’s superior performance in its two new mission sets – control of MQ-9 “Reaper” remotely-piloted aircraft, and cyber defense operations – despite fiscal adversity and manpower shortages. During this period of mission transition, the 110th Attack Wing continued to increase its operations tempo, flying more than 5,000 hours in the MQ-9 and more than 1,700 sorties. The Wing also prepared and deployed Airmen in various contingency operations supporting over 500 total deployment events, while maintaining high standards in Medical Readiness, Agile Combat Support, and multi-domain Command and Control.
Jackpot! KCC gets $2.15M for Regional Manufacturing Technology Center
Jackpot! KCC gets $2.15M for Regional Manufacturing Technology Center
Thursday, November 02, 2017
Noe Hernandez, Battle Creek EnquirerPublished 12:04 p.m. ET Nov. 2, 2017 | Updated 1:14 p.m. ET Nov. 2, 2017
Kellogg Community College’s will get $2.15 million from the state to renovate its Regional Manufacturing Technology Center in Battle Creek.
The Legislature’s Joint Capital Outlay Subcommittee approved a grant for the renovations on Wednesday, nearly 18 months after Gov. Rick Snyder signed a capital outlay bill into law.
“We are grateful for Governor Snyder, members of the Michigan Legislature and representatives of several local organizations, including the city of Battle Creek and the Battle Creek Tax Increment Finance Authority, for their continued support of the RMTC,” KCC President Mark O’Connell said Wednesday in a press release.
“The RMTC is a vital component of KCC and the ongoing BC Vision job training initiative in Battle Creek.
“The facility exists to teach people advanced skills that will help them discover fulfilling skilled trades careers in the Battle Creek area,” he added.
As part of the deal, KCC had to match half, or $2.15 million, of the $4.3 million needed for the project.
KCC is expected to begin renovating the older 40,000-square-foot section of the facility next spring.
The planned renovations include security, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, flooring and wall upgrades, and a new roof.
The college also plans to reprogram laboratories and classrooms to better meet the training needs of manufacturers.
“This is a tremendous thing and hugely important for our community,” said Joe Sobieralski, president and CEO of Battle Creek Unlimited, which manages the industrial park.
“This goes a long way toward supporting the needs for skilled trades,” he added.
The Battle Creek Tax Increment Finance Authority, or TIFA, contributed at least $1.075 million at KCC’s request this summer, while the college committed to the remaining amount.
“We’re very happy that the grant has been finalized by the state of Michigan and now the RMTC can proceed with their expansion and remodeling,” TIFA Chairman Al Bobrofsky said Wednesday.
TIFA also contributed $1.6 million to build an 8,400-square-foot addition to the RMTC. That $2.59 million project was completed last year.
The RMTC was built in 1989 with financial support from the Kellogg Foundation, Denso, state of Michigan, city of Battle Creek and private groups to train students for careers in business and manufacturing.
The RMTC also provides customized training for employers in the Fort Custer Industrial Park.
More than 620 students enrolled in RMTC programs this fall. KCC students can earn certificates in electronics, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, machining technology, pipefitting, renewable energy, industrial technology, industrial trades, welding and other fields.
Contact Battle Creek Enquirer education reporter Noe Hernandez at 269-966-0684 or nhernandez@battlecreekenquirer.com.
