BATTLE CREEK, Mich. Battle Creek Unlimited’s Economic Outlook 2025 brought together a packed room of community leaders, business partners, and innovators who were all dedicated to shaping the future of Battle Creek. The event fostered meaningful dialogue around growth, opportunity, and collaboration, highlighting the momentum driving Battle Creek forward. The event took place on November 4th, 2025 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Battle Creek. Attendees heard from an outstanding lineup of speakers, including presentations by Joe Sobieralski, President & CEO of Battle Creek Unlimited, sharing progress on the organization’s 2030 Strategic Plan and key community development projects; Dr. Paul Isely, ...

Written by: M. Alan Scott Special to Battle Creek Enquirer Alex Johnson has worked in the Michigan market for most of his career. So, it should come as no surprise that he is excited about the fact that ProTec Panel and Truss Manufacturing is opening up a new facility in Battle Creek later this year. In fact, that facility will eventually house more than 50 employees if all goes to plan, said Johnson, vice president of the Michigan Market for ProTec, which is headquartered in Bremen, Indiana. The company’s total investment in the move is around $3 million. “We quickly ...

BCU is pleased to share its Summer 2025 Quarterly Newsletter  This edition includes: From the President's Desk; ProTec Panel & Truss Expands to Battle Creek; Ribbon Cut on New Entrance for Air National Guard Base; Gull Lake Distilling Coming to Downtown; ....plus other news and information. The newsletter is available to view as a PDF  Our goal is to provide useful information to people who live and/or work in Battle Creek. We welcome your feedback and story ideas. Email your comments to BCUNewsletter@bcunlimited.org. You can also follow BCU on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.  ...

Thursday, August 21, 2025 Protec Panel and Truss to expand in Battle Creek, creating 50 new jobs Weiss Technik NA announces expansion, creating 36 new jobs in Kentwood WarBird Protection opens operations in Kalkaska, creating 110 new jobs LANSING, Mich. -- Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced three business expansions in Calhoun, Kent and Kalkaska counties. In total, over $31 million in capital investment and the creation of nearly 200 new jobs. ProTec Panel and Truss is expanding in Battle Creek, investing $3 million and creating 50 new jobs. Weiss Technick NA is planning $25.6 million of capital investment along with ...

Introducing our July Company Spotlight - Geislinger Corporation With roots in Austria and a global reputation for innovation, Geislinger Corporation has been a proud part of the Battle Creek community since establishing its North American headquarters here in 2001. A proud family-owned and multigenerational company, Geislinger is a world market leader for innovative powertrain solutions and built to last products for all kinds of high-performance drivelines. The product portfolio includes torsional vibration dampers, torsional elastic, high damping couplings, misalignment couplings, composite shaft lines, torsional vibration monitoring systems and digital solutions. Their innovative solutions are trusted across a wide range of ...

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 ...

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 ...

BCU is pleased to share its Spring 2025 Quarterly Newsletter  This edition includes: From the President's Desk; DoubleTree by Hilton Battle Creek Honored with Hilton Award; GVSU Shows Off Battle Creek Innovation Hub; DENSO Named a Gold-Level Veteran-Friendly Employer; Kalamazoo River Project Survey; ....plus other news and information. The newsletter is available to view as a PDF  Our goal is to provide useful information to people who live and/or work in Battle Creek. We welcome your feedback and story ideas. Email your comments to BCUNewsletter@bcunlimited.org. You can also follow BCU on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.  ...

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 ...

Supply chain management firm Bay Logistics has established a new distribution center in Battle Creek. The company, which provides warehousing and 3rd-party logistics services, recently acquired the property at 300 Fritz Keiper Blvd. in the Fort Custer Industrial Park. The 107,560-square foot property sits on 13.8 acres. It was originally occupied by Koyo Corporation of Japan, which began operations in 1989. Most recently, the facility housed DENSO Air Systems. The facility has state-of-the-art technology and has ample storage space, allowing for the efficient handling of a diverse range of products. The facility is climate controlled, has multiple exterior and interior ...

Congratulations to Clark Logic, which recently acquired the building at the corner of Fritz Keiper Blvd and Denso Road in the Fort Custer Industrial Park. Built in 1998, the 96,000-square foot industrial property is situated on 5 acres. The building was previously occupied by Toyota Tsusho. Clark Logic, based in Portage, Michigan, provides warehousing, distribution, and fulfillment services to a wide variety of regional clients. This is the company’s second property in the Fort Custer Industrial Park. Clark Logic acquired the 90,000-square foot facility at 5251 Wayne Road in late 2023. The new building gives them expanded capacity to meet the ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Joe Sobieralski, President & CEO of Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU), was recently recognized by Crain’s Grand Rapids Business as the top Newsmakers of the Year in the Hospitality category. Mr. Sobieralski was singled out for his leadership on the redevelopment of the DoubleTree by Hilton Battle Creek. Mr. Sobieralski joined newsmaker award recipients across sixteen categories, each with three finalists. More than 350 business leaders gathered at Amway Grand Plaza hotel on Thursday, March 6 for the awards ceremony which recognized West Michigan executives behind the biggest headlines in 2024 as chosen by the Crain’s editorial staff ...

BCU is pleased to share its Winter 2025 Quarterly Newsletter  This edition includes: From the President's Desk; New Junkers Aircraft Factory Announced for Battle Creek; BCU President & CEO Joe Sobieralski Named 2024 Newsmaker; KCC, WMU Receive $4.7 Million for EV Training Initiative; Battle Creek Named 2024 eCities Honored Community; ....plus other news and information. The newsletter is available to view as a PDF  Our goal is to provide useful information to people who live and/or work in Battle Creek. We welcome your feedback and story ideas. Email your comments to BCUNewsletter@bcunlimited.org. You can also follow BCU on Twitter, Facebook, ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 20, 2025 BATTLE CREEK, Mich. – Led by passionate aviator and chairman Dieter Morszeck, DIMOR Group will invest an additional $12M into the WACO Aircraft Corporation’s campus to build a brand-new JUNKERS Aircraft factory in Battle Creek, Michigan. This investment reinforces the DIMOR Group’s commitment to the region’s economic development and the U.S. production of its handcrafted, open-cockpit airplanes and the nearly $30M DIMOR Group previously invested in the campus to date. Preparatory work at the Battle Creek Executive Airport site is underway with the 45,000 square-foot addition expected to be completed this August. The ...

BCU is pleased to share its Fall 2024 Quarterly Newsletter  This edition includes: From the President's Desk; DoubleTree by Hilton Battle Creek Opens to Great Fanfare; Musashi Energy Solutions Expands Footprint in Battle Creek; Battle Creek Hosts Michigan Women's Commission; Battle Creek Picked for Community Development Fellowship; ....plus other news and information. The newsletter is available to view as a PDF  Our goal is to provide useful information to people who live and/or work in Battle Creek. We welcome your feedback and story ideas. Email your comments to BCUNewsletter@bcunlimited.org. You can also follow BCU on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.  ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BATTLE CREEK, Mich., –– Musashi Energy Solutions (MES), a leading innovator in energy storage technologies, celebrated the grand opening of its expanded Battle Creek facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 8, 2024. Held at the company’s Brydges Drive location, the event marks the completion of a significant renovation to accommodate new capabilities in the design, testing, and manufacturing of Hybrid SuperCapacitors (HSCs), a critical component in the company’s cutting-edge energy storage solutions. The event brought together several distinguished guests, including Yusuke Shindo, Consul General of Japan in Detroit; Joe Sobieralski, President and CEO of Battle Creek ...

https://wwmt.com/news/local/battle-creek-celebrates-opening-of-newly-renovated-hotel-replacing-mccamly-plaza-double-tree-hilton-hotel-kellogg-arena WWMT News Channel 3 October 18, 2024 BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — A $75 million project years in the making has officially opened in Battle Creek. On Friday, October 18, community members celebrated the grand opening of Doubletree by Hilton, formerly known as the McCamly Plaza Hotel. "This is a gathering spot, a show piece, and [a point of] pride for the community to bring it to fruition and share it with not only the [Battle Creek] community but the outside community to come and take a new look at Battle Creek," Battle Creek Unlimited CEO Joe Sobieralski said. The ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BCU Adopts New Strategic Plan for Economic Development in Battle Creek The plan identifies key growth sectors and prioritizes community development. Battle Creek, Michigan – The Board of Directors for Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) approved a new strategic plan for the organization at their August meeting. The plan aims to strengthen Battle Creek’s economy and improve the city’s vibrancy. The plan identifies three primary growth sectors: Energy, Food & Beverage, and Aviation & Defense. Notably, it expands BCU’s scope to include more community development, as opposed to BCU’s historical focus on attracting industrial investment and creating manufacturing ...

BCU is pleased to share its Summer 2024 Quarterly Newsletter  This edition includes: From the President's Desk; BCU Adopts New Strategic Plan; W.K. Kellogg Foundation Awards GVSU $10.3 Million Grant; WMU College of Aviation Launches Drone Certificate Program; Burma Center Hosts Grant Award Ceremony; ....plus other news and information. The newsletter is available to view as a PDF  Our goal is to provide useful information to people who live and/or work in Battle Creek. We welcome your feedback and story ideas. Email your comments to BCUNewsletter@bcunlimited.org. You can also follow BCU on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.  ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 6, 2024 GVSU will move to a building owned by BCU and expand programming in Battle Creek. BATTLE CREEK, MICH - Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) congratulates Grand Valley State University (GVSU) on the $10.3 million grant award from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), announced on June 3, 2024. The funds will be used to expand GVSU’s activities in downtown Battle Creek, which will include new educational programming and community outreach. GVSU will utilize the Kendall Center, which BCU acquired in July 2022. This announcement builds on a 2019 grant from WKKF to GVSU, which provided $15.5 ...