In a deal that was in works for six months, an Illinois manufacturer says it will open its second location in St. Joseph Charter Township.
Kay Manufacturing will locate at 3401 S. Lakeshore Drive in a building that was donated to Cornerstone Alliance by previous owners Ronald and Eva Kinney, who wanted to see more jobs come to the area. The company will be leasing the 120,000-square-foot building from
Cornerstone Alliance.
Kay Manufacturing works with companies that supply parts to the major automakers and others to custom-design parts, build prototypes and modify parts for the final production process. The company says it has grown steadily over its 60 year history.
The company expects to be up and operational by mid-summer in order to meet orders that it has already received, says Kay Manufacturing President Brian Pelke. Based upon company projections, it is anticipated that it will create 24 jobs in the first year with plans to grow to over 80 jobs in three years. It plans a $9.3 million investment in its new location.
As the building owner, Cornerstone Alliance is providing the company with over $90,000 in incentives.
"Our business has been on a growth track for some time now," Pelke says. "After conducting an exhaustive site search that included several states, we are pleased to be locating in the state of Michigan particularly Southwest Michigan."
Pelks adds: "We are excited to begin work immediately, and look forward to years of working within the state of Michigan and the local community.”
Kay Manufacturing has received incentives at the state and local level. The manufacturer has been awarded a $350,000 Michigan Business Development Program incentive. In addition, St. Joseph Township is expected to approve a 12-year tax abatement valued at $321,000.
"Kay Manufacturing is an important player in the automotive supply chain and its decision to locate in St. Joseph is great news for the area,” says
MEDC President and CEO Michael A. Finney. "This new investment shows Michigan’s highly competitive business climate and world class workforce mean real opportunities for leading edge companies."
Writer: Kathy Jennings, Second Wave Media
Source: Jamie Balkin, Cornerstone Alliance
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.