Battle Creek

With an economic development organization that is the envy of many communities, Battle Creek is a city building on its food industry roots and the land that makes it the state’s third largest city. For fun, each year the Cereal City, world headquarters to the Kellogg Co., celebrates the significance of the most important meal of the day with the World’s Longest Breakfast table. Bikers, cyclers and joggers take in the parks, forests and streams linked by a 24-mile linear park. Campers and outdoor lovers visit Fort Custer Recreation area for fishing, hiking, cross country skiing and boating. For animal lovers, African creatures, like giraffes, and Asian animals, like snow leopards, make the Binder Park Zoo a must. The Battle Creek Art Center and Battle Creek Symphony stoke the city’s cultural offerings and the new Firekeepers Casino adds to the city’s fun side. B.C’s Math and Science Center is acclaimed and secondary education needs are accommodated by Kellogg Community College, Robert B. Miller College and a branch of Western Michigan University. And Sojourner Truth, who lived here, watches over downtown from the memorial in her honor.

The proof the arts make a difference is in the data

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

May 6, 2010

Battle Creek will host an opportunity for arts organizations to get their act together.At the informational event, representatives of arts organizations will learn about the Michigan Cultural Data Project. It's an online management tool designed to build arts and cultural organizations by giving them the information they need to analyze financial and other related information. The information collected allows organizations to put together 70 different reports that can then be used to bolster the case made in grant applications. The information also can be used to seek out funding partners and to keep board members, potential donors, advocates and policy makers informed.After completing an online form each year, nonprofit groups can generate instant annual reports and trend analysis, benchmark performance against other organizations and use the data as part of applications to participating foundations. Michigan launched its Cultural Data Project May 3, the eighth state to do so nationally.Among those attending the Battle Creek informational session will include Jennifer Hill, Director of Special Projects, ArtServe Michigan; Linda Holderbaum, Executive Director, Art Center of Battle Creek; Katie Nelson, Collections Manager, Kingman Museum and Jennifer Sellers, Special Projects Manager, Kingman Museum. The event is 2 - 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 25, at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, One Michigan Avenue East, Battle Creek. It is one of 14 events ArtServe is sponsoring across Michigan through October.Sponsors of the program include: ArtServe Michigan, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, Battle Creek Community Foundation, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Council of Michigan Foundations, Frey Foundation, Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, MASCO Corporation Foundation, The Skillman Foundation, and Southfield Community Foundation.The Michigan Cultural Data Project is operated by the Pew Charitable Trusts.Writer: Kathy JenningsSource: Jennifer Hill, Director of Special Projects, ArtServe Michigan

Making money in an explosive way helps community

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

May 6, 2010

Churches commonly raise money through bake sales, bazaars and spaghetti suppers. Battle Creek's First Church of the Nazarene has found an uncommon fundraiser -- selling fireworks.The church partnered with TNT Fireworks as a way to help fund its food pantry last year, and it was so successful they're doing it again this year.In 2009, with an estimated $4,200 raised from the TNT Fireworks tent sale, the church purchased two modular buildings for its His Hand Compassionate Ministry Food Bank. The food pantry serves those in need from surrounding communities."We are making a difference in the lives of people who need encouragement, urgent assistance and life education," says Jim Spohn, pastor at First Church of the Nazarene. "Our partnership with TNT Fireworks greatly aided in our efforts to expand our food pantry last year, and we are again dreaming big as to how it may impact the lives of the more than 100 children we minister in this coming year. As a result, we feel these fireworks tents have a positive effect on our community." He said church members are praying for how the funds should best be used. One option is sending youngsters to camp.TNT works with more than 50 fundraisers in Michigan including church groups, marching band boosters to veterans groups. They raise money selling fireworks that are legal in Michigan.TNT advises the nonprofit organizations how best to conduct their fundraising campaigns. TNT conducts much of the preliminary work involved in setting up stands and tents at each location, lessening the labor-intensive burden on nonprofits. Part of this process is TNT University -- a required day of class -- to educate the group on what members need to know to run a successful fundraiser.The Alabama-based TNT has worked with nonprofit groups for more than 40 years. Groups use TNT stands and tents across the country to raise more than $20 million annually.Writer: Kathy JenningsSource: Jim Spohn, First Church of the Nazarene

Kalamazoo salon ships hair clippings to nonprofit to help environment

By Newsroom

●

Environment & Sustainability

●

May 6, 2010

Hair clippings converted into mats and tubes to soak up oil spills? You heard that right. A Kalamazoo salon is sending more than a few hanks of hair to a group that helps turn the clippings into effective tools for relief efforts in disasters like the recent oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. Blue 302 Salon and Spa fills a 3-foot by 1-foot by 1-foot receptacle full of hair at the end of each week. Rather than toss it out, that hair now is shipped at Blue 302's expense to Matter of Trust, a 12-year-old San Francisco-based nonprofit organization that connects other nonprofits in need with in-kind donations. Victoria Elkins, a Blue 302 employee suggested the move after reading about the initiative.Excerpt:"We just think it's going to be great for the environment," Elkins said. "Everybody here, we're all animal lovers and some of us are a little bit more rabid about the environment than others."She was excited about the idea of helping with spills that result from such incidents as the early April Chinese boat crash at Australia's Great Barrier Reef and last week's oil rig explosion off the shores of New Orleans.For more on the Reuse Of Society's Abundance program, read the entire story.Source: Kalamazoo Gazette

Miller College graduates will go out wearing green

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

April 29, 2010

When the 2010 graduating class of Miller College marches across the stage at McCamly Plaza they'll be wearing the expected black cap and gowns. But these "black" gowns are really "green." The new gowns are biodegradable and will break down in a landfill within a year. The school is using the Sustainable Element gowns sold by the Minneapolis-based Jostens for the first time this year. The product contains acetate fabric fiber made from natural wood harvested exclusively from renewable managed forests. It even comes in environmentally friendly packaging, says Jenny Andrews, marketing and communications director for Miller College.Students can go a step further and return the gowns to Josten. The company promises to put them in a landfill and spend $1 on an environmental sustainability project.Although the zippers do not biodegrade with the rest of the gown, they are made of 100-percent recycled materials. The school also will be using invitations and diplomas made from recycled paper.The school is working to take small steps toward sustainability that make sense for the small, but growing student body in Battle Creek, Andrews says.In the fall of 2009 the school counted 100 new students -- a 56-percent increase over the previous year's numbers. The school draws students from Calhoun, Barry, Branch, Eaton and Kalamazoo counties.Writer: Kathy JenningsSource: Jenny Andrews, Miller College

Electric vehicle batteries power 50 jobs, $70 million investment in Battle Creek

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

April 22, 2010

Toda America, Inc. officially broke ground April 20 in Battle Creek for its first U.S. manufacturing facility to make lithium ion cathode materials used in battery cells for electric drive vehicles.The project is expected to add 50 to 60 direct new high-tech manufacturing jobs, and an estimated 91 indirect jobs, says the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.The new $70 million manufacturing plant, being built on an 18-acre brownfield redevelopment site, is going up in phases. The first phase is scheduled to be in operation by 2011. Phase two is expected to be completed in 2013. By then it will be manufacturing 4,000 tons of finished product per year, as the company works to meet the demand of its battery manufacturing customers located in Michigan and nearby states. The total sales volume, based on the full capacity operation at the facility, is expected to be around $130 million.This project is supported by a competitive grant awarded to Toda by the DOE under the Recovery Act – Electric Device Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative. The Toda America project also is supported by the State of Michigan and the City of Battle Creek with economic development incentives related to high-tech jobs creation and brownfield redevelopment. Toda America is now a joint venture between Toda Kogyo Corp. and ITOCHU Corporation through a transaction completed last month.Tadashi Kubota, managing director of Toda Kogyo Group, says: "This is an important manufacturing investment in our quest to maintain our global leadership as the premier supplier of battery materials around the world, and now as a key local supply chain partner to the rapidly growing U.S. battery industry."Writer: Kathy JenningsSource: David Han, Turtlerock Greentech LLC

Wind and solar energy training takes off at Kellogg Community College

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

April 8, 2010

Training and certification for working with wind and solar energy systems will be available as part of new program at Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek. The Renewable Energy Certificate Program will be offered at the school's Regional Manufacturing and Technology Center, 405 Hill Brady Road.The 16-credit hour course, which is currently being developed, is on track to begin enrolling students in July.The program has been in the works since July 2009 when KCC developed a Renewable Energy Advisory Committee. "We are building this program to help grow our local economy and aid local businesses in fulfilling their renewable energy training needs, so this committee is essential to make sure that the program meets the needs of the community," says Laura DePompolo, director of the RMTC at KCC. The focus will be training industrial electricians to install, monitor and maintain small-scale wind and solar energy systems in industrial facilities.The curriculum also will cover the history and theory of renewable energy systems, health and safety guidelines for working with renewable energy systems and energy assessment. Funding comes from the Michigan Community College Association as part of an effort to develop alternative energy training in community colleges. KCC received $132,300. Of that, $108,300 will go toward supplies and $24,000 to curriculum development. Costs to install two solar systems and a wind turbine are not included but will be partially covered by a donation of approximately $24,000 and labor from five local unions and five local contractors. Contractors Hunter-Prell, W. Soule, Hoffman Brothers, Laborers Local 355, Southwest Michigan Building Trades Council and Schweitzer Construction are contributors. So are UA Local 333, IBEW Local 445, IBEW 445 LMCC (Motor Shop, Current Electrical, Union Electric), Ironworkers Local 340. School officials say the project would not have been possible without the unions' money and labor.The Renewable Energy Advisory Committee is made up of the Lawton-based renewable energy consulting firm Four Elements Energy, Union Electric, IBEW, the IBEW Local 445 Joint Apprenticeship Training Program, Western Michigan University, the Branch Area Careers Center, the Calhoun Area Career Center, the Michigan Technical Education Center and Battle Creek Unlimited.Writer: Kathy JenningsSource: Laura DePompolo, KCC

How to get your geek on in Battle Creek

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

April 8, 2010

If it feels like your business is falling behind in the technology department a solution may be at hand.Battle Creek Unlimited and the Nonprofit Alliance have created a unique partnership to offer a program they call Totally Technology, training for both non-profit and for-profit businesses in the Battle Creek area.Courses include such topics as: "Tips for the Accidental Techie," "Is Your Website Working for You?" "Marketing Businesses through Facebook" and "Technology Essentials for Nonprofits.""Technology can help our businesses transform and create workplaces for knowledge workers in all industries," says Karl Dehn, chief executive officer, Battle Creek Unlimited. "This unique partnership allows us to streamline and augment existing programs to elevate technology skill and knowledge."The free and low-cost training courses are designed to help professionals and organizations grow by using high technology. The courses are co-sponsored by Battle Creek Unlimited, Nonprofit Alliance, Miller College and Kellogg Community College."We want to make sure our community can compete in a global marketplace, and these courses are a contribution to that goal," says Teresa Durham, executive director, Nonprofit Alliance, a community-based management support program dedicated to strengthening and supporting an effective nonprofit sector in Calhoun, Barry and Branch counties.The Nonprofit Alliance already has a robust training program designed specifically for non-profit groups. Building on that knowledge and training process, Battle Creek Unlimited teamed with the Nonprofit Alliance to cross-promote and offer similar courses for businesses.The first online webinar, "Technology Essentials for Nonprofits" takes place Tuesday, April 13, from 10 a.m. to noon and explores essential hardware, software and services to help non-profit maximize resources. Classes begin April 20. Registration information is available here.Battle Creek Unlimited is the economic development organization that works with the City of Battle Creek to transform and diversify the Battle Creek economy. Writer: Kathy JenningsSource: Cheryl Beard, Battle Creek Unlimited

Edibles created by Battle Creek students get shot at blasting in to space

By Newsroom

●

Education

●

April 1, 2010

Students from the Battle Creek Area Math and Science Center are taking their own inventions -- pocket-sized, nutritional, high-calorie bars -- to a national competition next month in California, the Battle Creek Enquirer reports. There, it will be determined if their creations are worthy of making it on to a shuttle mission and into the mouths of astronauts. The 11 students are up against competitors from across the country who were asked by contest organizers to create the best astronaut food possible. Excerpt: After spending six months refining their recipes and polishing their marketing plans, they'll present their work at the Conrad Foundation's Spirit of Innovation Awards on April 10 at the NASA research center in Mountain View, Calif. Of the six teams in the final round, three are from Battle Creek. The pocket-sized meals must conform to NASA's requirements for calories, fat, carbohydrates and protein. The three Battle Creek teams received some help along the way from Kellogg Co. mentors, but the projects were all student-driven, Principal Chris Lapekas said. "The biggest challenge for the kids was decision-making without adult intervention," he said, "coupled with time constraints that a professional would feel when they take on any additional responsibility." For more about the competition, read the entire story. Source: Battle Creek Enquirer

Law firm buys into downtown Battle Creek

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

April 1, 2010

A commitment to the revitalization of downtown Battle Creek spurred a group of local attorneys to move from tenants to landlords. The firm of Kreis, Enderle, Hudgins & Borsos P.C. has bought 1 W. Michigan Ave. from Bank of America."The move was multi-faceted," says Mark Kreter, of Kreis, Enderle. "We have always felt it's better to own than to lease. The opportunity arose when Bank of Ameria wanted to sell."The law firm, which employs six attorneys in its Battle Creek office, had previously looked at properties south of town before deciding to buy the property and stay in the first floor office space it has occupied since 1998."When we looked at it we saw the opportunity downtown, that it will revitalize and flourish," Kreter says. The community's commitment to and significant effort that has gone into revitalization will bring that about, he adds.There are no plans to change the two-story, 11,000-square-foot building at this time. Kreter points out the building has long been an anchor in the downtown. "There has been a bank building or professional offices here since the early 1900s," Kreter says.Bank of America will continue to occupy the second floor on a long-term lease agreement with the law firm, the building's new owner. Writer: Kathy JenningsSource: Mark Kreter, Kreis, Enderle, Hudgins & Borsos P.C.

German metal finishing company expands in Battle Creek

By Newsroom

●

Technology & Innovation

●

March 25, 2010

Battle Creek will benefit from a German company's decision to consolidate its operations, reports the Battle Creek Enquirer. Rosler Metal Finishing, the North American division of the Rosler Group, is planning to add 110,000 square feet to its Battle Creek site at 311 Armstrong Road. Operations in Adrian and Marshall will be cosolidated at the Battle Creek site. Excerpt: The family-owned company manufactures more than 95 percent of its ceramic media, plastic media and compounds at its 150,000-square-foot Battle Creek facility. It employs 120 people in North America and 1,300 workers worldwide. "After carefully considering all the pros and cons, the advantages of a centralized facility with synergies in Production, Sales, Inside Sales, Marketing, and Purchasing, as well as higher tax incentives offered by the City of Battle Creek, provided overwhelming support for our decision," said Harold Wagenknecht, President of Rosler Metal Finishing USA. Rosler products are used in everything from aircraft to golf ball manufacturing, said Karl Dehn, Battle Creek Unlimited president and chief executive officer. The story goes on to say All Rosler employees in Adrian and the six or so workers at the Marshall Township facility will be offered employment in Battle Creek, Read the whole story to find out more about efforts to convince the business to expand in Battle Creek.