LANSING—Four projects expected to generate a total investment of $6.6 million and create 36 jobs in Michigan have received support from the Michigan Strategic Fund, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. announced.
Forman Glass LLC, headquartered in Comstock Township, received a $100,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant to support a $2 million project to build a new 25,200-square-foot building to include warehousing, fabrication, and front office space. Forman Glass is a residential and commercial glass and glazing company serving both commercial and residential clients. The company is moving its fabrication plant in Ft. Wayne, Ind., where it manufactures window and entrance frames for both its Michigan and Indiana customers, to Comstock Township. Michigan was chosen over a competing site in Indiana. Comstock Township has offered property tax abatement in support of the project. For information on Forman Glass, visit https://www.formanglass.com.
The Forman Glass expansion was approved under the Micro MBDP tool, approved by the Michigan Strategic Fund on April 23. The Micro MBDP is designed to promote business growth especially in rural areas or areas with high unemployment as well as target industries. The Micro MBDP will provide grants, loans, or other economic assistance to businesses for highly competitive projects in Michigan that have fewer job creation numbers than required by the original MBDP guidelines.
The city of Boyne City has been awarded a $408,415 Michigan Community Revitalization Program (MCRP) performance-based grant for conversion of the Veteran’s Park Pavilion into a multi-use public space. This renovated space will be 8,000 square feet and will include a commercial kitchen, public seating area, public restrooms, and mechanical updates permitting the pavilion for use year-round. The project is intended to facilitate a growing cottage industry in the Boyne City area, providing entrepreneurs a space to create and sell their products while also supporting the city’s farmers’ market operations. This new pavilion in conjunction with other recent public improvements will make Veteran’s Park a focal point of downtown Boyne City. The project has received local support in matching funds raised from the city of Boyne City, Boyne’s Main Street program, the farmers market, the U.S. Dairy Association, community foundations, Charlevoix County, service clubs and private donors. The city expects this project to result in a capital investment of $816,830.
Canute Properties LLC, plans to historically redevelop an obsolete building in downtown Alpena into a mixed-use building with commercial and residential space. The commercial space will consist of two new businesses, Red Brick Tap & Barrel restaurant and bar, and a commercial incubator kitchen. The second floor will consist of five market-rate residential apartments and a rooftop patio. The project is expected to generate total capital investment of nearly $1.5 million and create 13 full-time equivalent jobs, and will revitalize a functionally obsolete building while bringing new residents and economic activity to the downtown. As a result, the project has been awarded a $622,939 Michigan Community Revitalization Program performance-based grant. The city of Alpena is supporting the project with a Neighborhood Enterprise Zone abatement valued at $44,748, and the Alpena Downtown Development Authority is providing $20,000 in grant funds for façade improvements.
FCM Development LLC, plans to rehabilitate the obsolete FC Mason Building in St. Johns into a mixed-use development. The site will consist of 40 residential units, one commercial space, and a greenspace. FCM has partnered with Consumers Energy to remedy site contamination, which caused the building to remain vacant. The project is expected to generate total capital investment of nearly $2.5 million and create three jobs, while also revitalizing St. Johns by bringing new residents and economic activity to the downtown area. As a result, the project has been awarded a $429,534 Michigan Community Revitalization Program performance-based grant. Local support includes an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act tax abatement valued at $148,243. In addition, the city of St. Johns supports the project as a partner in the MEDC’s Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) program.