'We've got to get it started': State, local officials tour future site of Battle Creek drone park Greyson Steele Battle Creek Enquirer, August 22, 2023 Visitors tour the future site of the drone park at Battle Creek Executive Airport on Monday, Aug. 21, 2023. BATTLE CREEK — Standing in a grassy field on the western portion of Battle Creek Executive Airport (BTL) Monday morning, Joe Sobieralski offered state and local officials a firsthand look at the size and magnitude of what's possible in the Cereal City. In the distance, guests could see a glimpse of Duncan Aviation's ongoing $40 million ...

PRESS RELEASE August 17, 2023 BATTLE CREEK, MICH. – Calling all food enthusiasts and entrepreneurs! Battle Creek’s first Food Prize promises an extraordinary showcase of up-and-coming food creators and new culinary experiences! Food Prize will celebrate the passion and creativity of food and beverage businesses in the region. The event is set for Saturday, October 7 from noon to 5 p.m., at Kellogg Arena downtown. This is the start of Battle Creek Restaurant Week, set for October 7-14. Food Prize is a collaborative effort between Sprout BC, Battle Creek Food Reimagined, Kellogg Arena, the city Small Business Development Office, and ...

PRESS RELEASE Funds will be used for airport upgrades to accommodate future traffic from autonomous and remote aircraft. August 3, 2023 BATTLE CREEK, MICH. – Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) is pleased to announce that it has secured a $7 million appropriation in the 2024 state budget which was signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on July 31. The funds will support the development of an advanced air mobility park at the Battle Creek Executive Airport (BTL). The park, which is to be called MICH-AIR, has been in the works since 2019 when BCU received a grant from the Michigan Defense Center ...

PRESS RELEASE Restore (269) Receives $1.5 Million Grant from MEDC for Anson Hotel Project Development will bring housing, food co-op to downtown Battle Creek Tuesday, July 25, 2023 LANSING, Mich. – Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation in announcing Michigan Strategic Fund approval of a wide range of projects, including two new manufacturing facilities by innovative glass products manufacturer LuxWall, two new facilities by electric truck manufacturer Bollinger Motors, expansions by Michigan companies Magna and Vantage Plastics, a new spec building in Romulus, placemaking projects in Battle Creek and Pontiac, and other actions that will further strengthen ...

BCU is pleased to share its Spring 2023 Quarterly Newsletter  This edition includes:     From the President's Desk;     BCPS Announces Bearcat Advantage Scholarship;     TRMI Flips the Switch on Solar Array;     New Faces at BCU;     BC Cargo Opens for 2023;  ....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.  ...

PRESS RELEASE May 25, 2023 BATTLE CREEK, MICH. – Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) recently added Aaron Gibson as its new Facilities Coordinator. Aaron will provide maintenance services for properties and facilities owned by BCU as well as the Battle Creek Tax Increment Finance Authority (BCTIFA). These include the Fort Custer Industrial Park, the Customs Cargo Center, and several downtown properties and vacant land parcels. A Michigan native, Aaron grew up in Battle Creek and attended Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek. He has a wealth of experience in the manufacturing, facilities management, and construction sectors. Prior to joining BCU, Aaron ...

The new “Bearcat Advantage” scholarship seeks to eliminate opportunity gaps for graduating students and improve access to higher education. PRESS RELEASE May 17, 2023 BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Today, Battle Creek Public Schools (BCPS) announced the Bearcat Advantage, a new scholarship that covers up to 100% of college tuition and fees for all eligible graduates, beginning with the graduating class of 2023. In partnership with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), this historic investment builds off of all the progress of the school district’s transformation work that began over six years ago and ensures that the next generation of BCPS students ...

March 31, 2023 BATTLE CREEK, MICH. – Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) is excited to congratulate New Holland Brewing on the opening of their newest location in Battle Creek. The much-anticipated restaurant, microbrewery and distillery officially opens to the public on Friday, March 31. The venue is in the heart of downtown and will feature New Holland’s signature beers and craft cocktails, as well as a variety of food options. The new location will also have a beer garden, complete with a stage, yard games, and fire features for year-round entertainment. The opening of New Holland’s Battle Creek branch is the ...

March 29, 2023 BATTLE CREEK, MICH. – Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU), the economic development organization for the City of Battle Creek, welcomes Kris Martin as its new Urban Planner. Kris will manage BCU’s participation in Battle Creek’s efforts to naturalize the Kalamazoo River and help coordinate community development and placemaking projects throughout Battle Creek. Kris grew up in Buchanan, Michigan and attended Michigan State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy and political science. Prior to college, Kris spent a year as an AmeriCorps intern with the Hawaii Department of Forestry and Wildlife. Since 2011, Kris has ...

March 14, 2023 Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) will host its annual Economic Update on Thursday, April 27 at Kellogg Arena.  Doors will open at 7:30 AM, with the program scheduled to begin at 8:00 AM. Breakfast will be provided by FireKeepers Casino Hotel. This will be BCU’s first in-person update since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and there is a lot to talk about. BCU President & CEO Joe Sobieralski will report on the results of BCU’s 5-year strategic plan as well as Battle Creek’s overall economic health. Quentin Messer, Jr., President of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), ...

BCU is pleased to share its Winter 2023 Quarterly Newsletter  This edition includes:     BCU Congratulates Ford for Choosing Calhoun County Site;     BCU President Receives 40 Under 40 Award;     BCU Acquires TreeHouse Site;     BCU Adds New Staff;     BCU Announces Changes to its Board of Directors;  ....plus other news and information. The newsletter is available to view as a PDF here. 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 ...

February 24, 2023 BATTLE CREEK, MICH. – Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) is excited to announce the addition of Gabriela Perez-Hernandez to its team as the Director of the Food Reimagined program. Food Reimagined is a new community-led initiative to foster emerging food & beverage companies in Battle Creek. As Director of Food Reimagined, Gabriela will create a multi-year strategy to launch and scale the program. She will lead in the marketing of the initiative and recruitment of companies to Battle Creek and provide technical support to companies as they scale their business. The program is being funded in part by ...

February, 17, 2023 BATTLE CREEK, MICH. – Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) is pleased to announce several changes to its Board of Directors. In December, we bid farewell to Toshiya Kawashima of DENSO who returned to Japan. Mr. Kawashima will be stationed in Japan’s Tohoku region, where he will manage DENSO’s Fukushima facility. Joining the board will be Mike Way, Bronson Health; Neal Graziano, W.K. Kellogg Foundation; and Frank Tecumseh, FireKeepers Casino Hotel. With these additions, BCU once again has a full board of 15 members. Mike Way is the Senior Vice President for Supply Chain, Facilities & Real Estate at ...

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 ...

February 8, 2023 BATTLE CREEK, MICH. – Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) is pleased to welcome Heather Ignash to its team. Heather will serve as an Economic Development Specialist and will further BCU’s efforts in business retention, expansion, and workforce development. Heather brings a wealth of experience in Workforce Development and Human Resources to BCU. Most recently, Heather served as the Business Services Coordinator for Michigan Works! Southwest, based at the W.E. Upjohn Institute. While at Michigan Works, Heather worked with employers on issues related to staffing and training, and was responsible for administering training grant programs from roll-out through completion ...

January 31, 2023 BATTLE CREEK, MICH – Joe Sobieralski, President & CEO of Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU), has been announced as a recipient of the 2023 Economic Development 40 Under 40 Award, the biennial award recognizing rising stars under 40 years old in the economic development industry. The awards program is hosted by Development Counsellors International (DCI), a New York-based integrated marketing firm that works with economic development and travel organizations around the globe, and Jorgenson Consulting, a leading national executive search firm serving organizations in non-profit, economic, and community development industries. An independent selection committee of six economic development ...

BATTLE CREEK, MICH. – In Fall 2022, the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) recognized Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) with two awards for excellence for the McCamly Hotel renovation project. The IEDC recognizes outstanding and innovative development projects that significantly enhance revitalizations of communities, states, or regions. At the IEDC Annual Conference in Oklahoma City, BCU received the Gold award for Innovative Project Financing as well as the Silver award for Public-Private Partnerships. Applicants were selected by a diverse panel of economic and community developers from around the world. In 2022, the IEDC received over 500 submissions from four countries. "These ...

BCU is pleased to share its Fall 2022 Quarterly Newsletter  This edition includes:     IEDC Honors BCU with Gold and Silver Medals;     Duncan Aviation Breaks Ground;     Going PRO Talent Fund Accepting Applications;     BCU Participates in CEO Action Summit;     Farewell Adam Reid; ....plus other news and information. The newsletter is available to view as a PDF here. 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, ...

BCU is pleased to share its Summer 2022 Quarterly Newsletter  This edition includes:     John Gallagher Passes the Gavel to Erick Stewart      Critical Financing Secured for McCamly Renovation     Battle Creek TIFA Extended     BCU Acquires WMU's Kendall Center     KCC Dedicates New Mobile Trainer ....plus other news and information. The newsletter is available to view as a PDF here. 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 ...

Battle Creek Unlimited, St. Philip Parish, and Driven Design Studio are pleased to share an invitation for bid for the Southwest Michigan Accelerator Kitchen. The invitation for bid can be found here as a PDF. Submittals, inquires, and any other communication must be sent to smak@bcunlimited.org. Key Dates: Request for proposals issued – 12:00 p.m., August 30, 2022 Mandatory pre-bid meetings/site tours – 12:00 p.m., September 6, 2022 and 12:00 p.m., September 9, 2022 Contractor inquiries due – 12:00 p.m., September 16, 2022 Responses to inquiries posted – 5:00 p.m., September 22, 2022 Bids due – 5:00 p.m., September 29, ...