The Right Place assists Litehouse, Inc. with area expansion

Today The Right Place, Inc., in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the City of Lowell, announced that refrigerated salad dressing manufacturerLitehouse, Inc. will invest$12.1m and add 77 new jobs at its Lowell facility.

The Idaho-based company recently completed a 25,000 SF expansion at its 1400 Foreman Street location in the City of Lowell, and including this expansion will invest $12.1m to bring in additional operations capabilities.

The 100 percent employee-owned company, which currently employs more than 340 owners in Lowell and more than 1,000 worldwide, is experiencing increased growth and demand across all its business channels, and needs to expand to keep up with that growth and demand.

The MEDC is supporting the expansion effort with the approval of a $462,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant.

“Litehouse is excited to expand our production facilities and workforce in Lowell,” Jim Frank, President and CEO, Litehouse. “The company is experiencing strong growth, especially in our Eastern US and Canadian markets making our Michigan plant essential to our current and future growth. We are grateful to The Right Place for the opportunity to continue to grow our Michigan business.”

The Right Place worked with the company in collaboration with the MEDC to assist the company’s local growth versus possibilities at the company’s other manufacturing locations in Idaho and Utah.

“West Michigan’s food processing industry employs thousands in West Michigan, and continues to grow, thanks to Litehouse Foods,” said Thad Rieder, Senior business development manager, and project lead. “Bringing the right growth resources at the right time will ensure that Litehouse continues to grow and prosper in Lowell.”

“Litehouse is pleased to be working with the Right Place on our expansion plans,” said Kelly Prior, Executive vice President and CFO, Litehouse. “Over the past year, we have increased the number of employee owners in Michigan from 254 to 341 and with this project we will increase another 77 employee owners by the end of the year. We are excited to help drive the successful business growth in West Michigan.”