Right Place News

Growing West Michigan One Success at a Time

The Right Place Secures New Investment; Jobs in Local Expansion

Wyoming, MI (Oct. 18, 2011) – The Right Place, in collaboration with The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the city of Wyoming, announced today the planned expansion of The Priceline Group’s (Nasdaq: PCLN) operations in Wyoming, adding another 562 jobs in the project.

The Priceline Group is a leader in global online hotel reservations, with over 190,000 participating hotels worldwide. It comprises four primary brands: Booking.com, priceline.com, Agoda.com and TravelJigsaw as well as several ancillary brands. The Priceline Group provides online travel services in over 110 countries in Europe, North America, South America, the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East and Africa.

The company established a North American customer service center in the city of Wyoming in 2008. At that time, $7.7 million was invested to refurbish a former Siemens Dematic facility at 4147 Eastern Ave., and create 424 jobs over five years.

Just three years later, the service center houses 386 employees with an additional 253 temporary employees, many of whom are in The Priceline Group’s temp-to-hire program. With increasing business and a need to establish a training center in the Americas, the company considered locations in the U.S. western time zone and South America. The Priceline Group also operates customer service centers around the world in such cities as Amsterdam, Netherlands; Lille, France; Berlin, Germany, and Cambridge, United Kingdom.

The MEGA approved today is an amendment of the initial MEGA awarded in 2008. The amendment is part of an incentive package that also includes property tax abatements from the city of Wyoming. Together, they convinced The Priceline Group to recommit and expand in West Michigan. Both the existing and the 562 additional jobs include health benefits, shift and second-language premiums, and annual bonuses for employees.

“It is a credit to the multi-lingual skills and work ethic of West Michigan’s workforce that The Priceline Group is increasing its investment in our region,” said Susan Jackson, Right Place Vice President of Business Development. “Jobs with health benefits and incentives such as those offered by Priceline Group are at a premium, and without the skill set available here, and without the collaboration of the MEDC and the city of Wyoming, this success would not have been possible.”

Carbon Composite Manufacturer Expands in West Michigan

Grand Rapids, MI (July 19, 2011) – The Right Place, in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and local partners, announced today a new manufacturing expansion in the city of Walker. The MEDC approved the amendment to an existing High Technology MEGA tax credit for Vermont-based, Plasan Carbon Composites. The amendment will clear the way for a new manufacturing facility in the City of Walker, and is expected to generate over $18 million in capital investment, creating 202 new jobs over the next three years.

Plasan Carbon Composites is an automotive tier one manufacturer of carbon composite components such as hoods, roofs, and fenders for low volume, luxury vehicles. Through its research and development efforts, the company has developed a new manufacturing process enabling high volume production of automotive components. The company’s new facility, located at 3195 N. Wilson Drive, Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the City of Walker, will implement this new process, establishing a high volume production facility enabling Plasan Carbon Composites to pursue high volume automotive component opportunities.

“Plasan is part of the next generation of smart manufacturing and advanced materials in the automotive industry,” said George Bosnjak, Business Development Manager, The Right Place, Inc., and project lead for the expansion. “The Right Place is there to ensure that, as companies like Plasan grow, they grow in West Michigan.”

The expansion project began in December 2010 with an initial meeting with The Right Place. Based on preliminary discussions and project requirements, Bosnjak led the business case for West Michigan, coordinating with local real estate resources and leading site tours of several potential facilities in the area. Once a facility was determined, Bosnjak led the coordination with the MEDC, the City of Walker, and the company to determine possible economic incentives for the expansion to ensure the project stayed in West Michigan. The Right Place will continue working with Plasan Carbon Composites, connecting the company with regional recruiting and workforce training resources.

“This project is a great example of the unique open collaboration and teamwork in West Michigan,” said Bosnjak. “Our state and local partners worked together with private industry to make this project a success, bring new jobs and investment to the region.”

Michigan competed with the states of Ohio and Indiana for the manufacturing expansion project. Both competing states host a growing polymer technology and research cluster as well as access to other key regional suppliers that made the states attractive. However, The Right Place, the MEDC, and local partners were able to build a business case of the right facility, economic incentives, and access to a talented workforce to keep the company in Michigan.

The Right Place Names New Director of Innovation Services

Grand Rapids, MI (April 19, 2011)– The Right Place, Inc. is pleased to welcome Karen Benson as the organization’s new Director of Innovation Services. She will begin her new role with the organization on May 2.

Benson, an experienced economic and business development professional in West Michigan, will lead The Right Place’s Innovation West Michigan initiative, a service that identifies and connects intellectual property and technologies with area companies, creating new products, services, jobs and investment in the region. In her new role, she will be responsible for furthering the initiative, building partner collaborations with industry, education and R&D organizations.

“Karen is extremely well connected within the West Michigan community and brings a wealth of experience to The Right Place team,” said Birgit Klohs, President and CEO, The Right Place, Inc. “We look forward to leveraging her strengths to further develop the Innovation West Michigan initiative as the central hub for business innovation in the region.”

First launched in 2007, Innovation West Michigan has already assisted over 500 West Michigan companies and entrepreneurs in the collaboration and commercialization of new products and services. Benson plans to build on this foundation and work directly with area resources to develop and commercial new products and services.

“I am delighted to join The Right Place team and have the opportunity to lead such an exciting initiative,” said Benson. “I look forward to working with West Michigan’s colleges, universities, and area companies to collaboratively drive business innovation. This initiative is about creating the products, services, and jobs West Michigan will need in the future, and I’m proud to be a part of this initiative.”

For the past several years, Benson has provided economic and business development services in the Muskegon area. Prior to her work in Muskegon, she was the Vice President of Business Development for Grand Haven Bank (now Michigan Commerce Bank) and the Economic Development Director and Small Business Development Director for the Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Ferrysburg, Chamber of Commerce.

Food Industry Feeds Economic Growth in West Michigan

The Right Place supports two regional companies creating 429 new jobs

Grand Rapids, MI (April 19, 2011) – The Right Place, in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and local partners, announced today two new West Michigan business expansions that are designed to create 429 new jobs and invest $74 million in the cities of Wyoming, Kentwood and Grand Rapids.

Hearthside Food Solutions, LLC – 302 jobs, $17.4 million in capital investment

Hearthside, the largest privately held bakery in the U.S., plans to expand its facilities in the cities of Kentwood and Grand Rapids to support customer demand for additional food manufacturing capacity of granola bars and other baked snacks. The majority of the investment and job creation will occur at the company’s Shaffer Avenue facility in Kentwood. The $17.4 million expansion project is planned to create 195 jobs the first year, with a 5-year total of 302 new jobs in West Michigan.

Hearthside provides contract food manufacturing services to leading global food brands and is the largest producer of breakfast bars in the United States. The company operates 12 manufacturing plants in seven states.

The company considered several other existing locations outside of Michigan for the expansion project. Working with the MEDC and cities of Grand Rapids and Kentwood, The Right Place led the development of an incentive package to support Hearthside’s growth plans, keeping the company and the new jobs in West Michigan.

“West Michigan’s food processing and agribusiness cluster has great potential for growth in West Michigan,” noted Susan Jackson, Vice President, Business Development, The Right Place, Inc. “We’re seeing continued growth and investment in the sector such as this latest expansion announcement.”

The cities of Kentwood and Grand Rapids are supportive of the expansion project and anticipate approval of real and personal property tax abatements.

Gordon Food Service, Inc. (GFS) – 127 jobs, $56.5 million in capital investment

In June 2010, The Right Place and the MEDC announced a Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) tax credit for a Canadian back-office support consolidation project in the city of Wyoming. The scope of the initial project was recently modified to include the addition of 127 new high-tech jobs. Additionally, due to space limitations, GFS plans to change the project location and invest $56.5 million in the development of a Greenfield site in the city of Wyoming. The company plans to forgo Brownfield MBT credits approved for the original site in August 2010.

GFS is North America’s largest family-owned broadline food service distributor. The company provides food service products and solutions to businesses and retails customers in eight states and throughout Canada. Headquartered in Wyoming, Michigan, GFS has remained an innovative leader in the food service industry for over 100 years.

“GFS has been a core component of our economy for over 100 years,” said Jackson. “Their continued commitment to the region in both jobs and investment is why we are dedicated to seeing that companies like GFS grow here in West Michigan.”

The city of Wyoming is supportive of the project and anticipates approval of a 12-year real and personal property tax abatement.

The Right Place Supports Local Growth, Brings 152 New Jobs to Region

West Michigan’s second-largest software firm, hardware manufacturer invest $2.2 million

Grand Rapids, MI (March 15, 2011) – The Right Place, in collaboration with The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the City of Grand Rapids, announced today the planned expansions of two West Michigan companies that are expected to create 152 new jobs and invest $2.2 million within Grand Rapids.

Atomic Object – 30 jobs, $983,000 in capital investment

Atomic Object LLC, one of West Michigan’s largest software development firms, is expanding its operations in Grand Rapids, investing $983,000 and creating 30 jobs.

Founded in 2001, Atomic Object has designed software solutions for companies in the aerospace, automotive testing, color management, distribution, material handling, manufacturing and financial services industries. Its products have included programming and design for web-based, mobile, desktop and embedded applications.

Company founders Carl Erickson and Bill Bereza moved into the company’s current facility at 941 Wealthy St. SE in 2003, redeveloping the former Helmus Brothers building into offices, meeting rooms and shared space for its employees. Averaging 25 percent annual growth since, Atomic has become a principal software development firm in West Michigan. Earlier this year, it launched Atomic Object Embedded, a new service specializing in designing and creating customized embedded technology systems for client companies, often working on-site in collaboration with the client’s in-house team. With these and other projects driving company growth, Atomic Object turned to The Right Place for assistance in expanding its team and facilities.

Working with the City of Grand Rapids and the (MEDC), The Right Place developed an incentive package to support Atomic Object’s growth within its current location. A Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) state tax incentive, as well as an abatement of city property taxes from the City of Grand Rapids, will support Atomic Object’s purchase of new equipment and ground floor remodeling. The company will hire five new employees during the project’s first year, with 25 additional jobs to follow.

“Supporting highly sophisticated information technology companies like Atomic Object is essential to supporting our growth as a center for advanced manufacturing, computing and research,” noted Business Development Manager George Bosnjak. “They are a perfect example of the kind of companies that are growing here, and creating the technology that supports many of our traditional industries. Atomic Object’s work not only makes other companies more technically adept and efficient, but supports their ability to make the kind of technology-driven products required to compete in an innovation-driven global market.”

Knape & Vogt – 122 new jobs, $1.24 million in capital investment.

In a follow-up to its acquisition of Richmond, Ill.-based John Sterling Corp. in January, Knape & Vogt (KV) is investing $1.24 million and creating 122 new jobs.

The John Sterling acquisition is KV’s second this year (the company also acquired GSlide Corp., a designer and manufacturer of sliding system products, in January) and its third in the last five years. A former competitor, John Sterling is a leading manufacturer and marketer of functional and decorative home storage and organization products. Major products include residential shelving and organization hardware systems, as well as a collection of sliding door hardware for residential and commercial installations.

The acquisition gives KV an expanded presence in its retail and distribution channels as both companies have long-standing customer relationships with key retailers in the US and Canada.

With the acquisition, KV is absorbing and consolidating the John Sterling operations within KV’s facility at 2700 Oak Industrial Drive NE. The project includes an investment of $1.24 million to re-fit existing unused space and purchase equipment. The company will also add 122 employees to its current complement of 456.

Collaborating with the MEDC and the City of Grand Rapids, The Right Place designed an incentive package – including a MEGA tax abatement on state taxes as well as abatements on local taxes – to support the project.

“Retaining growing companies like Knape & Vogt is a strategic priority for The Right Place,” said Business Development Manager George Bosnjak. “They are the engine of our economic growth, and the source for the majority of new jobs in West Michigan. It has been rewarding for us to work with Knape & Vogt on a variety of projects over the past several years, and we look forward to their continued prosperity.”

Right Place Announces Expansion of West Michigan Manufacturer

Autocam Corporation to add 200 new jobs and invest $32.6 million in Kentwood facilities.

Grand Rapids, MI (Dec. 14, 2010) – Today, The Right Place, Inc. and the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) announced new expansion plans for Kentwood, Michigan-based Autocam Corporation expected to create 200 new jobs and $32.6 million in investment over the nex