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Certified Business Park Program Newsletter |
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Congratulations Recertifications!
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 Welcome First Street Business Park
New to the Certified Business Park Program is First Street Business Park located in Pere Marquette Township in our Northern Lower Peninsula Region.
History of the Park
(Taken from the Pere Marquette Charter Township Website)
Development of the First Street Business Park has been moving ahead since 2006, now that the Township has been successful in its application for an Economic Development Administration Grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The grant will pay for 50% of the cost of developing the 77 acre parcel on First Street, including Class A roads, storm sewer, sanitary sewer, watermains, site work, and water supply. The entire project is estimated at $4.79 million. The balance of the project cost will be financed through the sale of general obligation bonds by the Township.
This property, bounded by First Street on the south, Meyers Road on the east, and railroad tracks on the north and west, was purchased from CSX Transportation in 1998. Since then, a wetland evaluation and determination has been secured from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and a storm sewer outlet was constructed while the Road Commission improved Meyers Road.
The Township Board decided in November 2003 to begin the grant application process and commit to moving forward with the development. Factors influencing the Board's decision include the high unemployment rate, the desirability of attracting new, higher-tech and higher wage jobs to the area, strong support for the project by the West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission and the U.S. Department of Commerce, the need to strengthen water supply and pressure in the industrial sector, and commitment by Board and staff members to move forward with the additional workload created by such an endeavor.
The property is currently zoned as a Business, Technology and Industrial District. This district is designed to allow for a mix of business and industry with a strong focus on "high-tech" operations. Charter Communications has made a commitment to install state-of-the-art broadband infrastructure to make this site fully serviceable to every type of business or industry dependent upon the highest of communications and data transfer capabilities.
Bids on four projects were awarded in February of 2006. Separate contracts addressed the wellhouse building, the wellfield, the 500,000 gallon water tower, and the Park's infrastructure. The official Groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 6, 2006, with work also beginning in the spring.
Today, the First Street Business Park is ready-to-go! All the infrastructure and streets are completed, trees are planted, signage is out for bids, and the first lot was sold in the early summer of 2008.
Park Tenants
First on the scene in the new Park was Life EMS ambulance service. The new Life Building is near the corner of First Street and S. Meyers Road, which gives the drivers quick access to medical emergencies in any direction.
Next to break ground was P & J Welding. Brothers Paul and Jeff Kraus will be operating out of a location near the center of the Park, on the First Street side.
Central to the efficient operation of Township water supplies is the municipal well field and Township wellhouse. These are also located in the First Stree Business Park.
Click here for visit the Pere Marquette Charter Township website.
Click here to view the First Street Business Park CBP webpage. | |
 CBP Promoting via the Web
Views of the CBP Website have been steadily increasing each month as well as the views of each park page.
Below are some ways in which you could promote your CBP and increase the traffic visiting your parks page.
We have recently created simple URL's for each park's webpage that make it easier to reference and include links to your webpage on many different sources. Adding your park's name and web address to letter heads, marketing materials, or business cards is a great way to get the word out in many different forms. Also, including a link on other websites that potential tenants may visit could be helpful in increasing the flow of traffic to your parks webpage, i.e. city and county sites, CVB's, Chamber sites, Regional ED Organization sites, Trade websites and Commercial Property sites. Make sure your park's simple URL is everywhere!
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 Saftey Glasses USA, Inc. Moves to Three Rivers Area Enterprise Park
By: Bruce Snook, President, River Country Journal LLC
The growth of an Internet-based Three Rivers business has prompted its recent relocation to the Three Rivers Area Enterprise Park.
The new home for Safety Glasses USA, Inc. in the Three Rivers Area Enterprise Park
Safety Glasses USA, Inc., which had operated from quarters on Millard Street since December of 2004, moved to the former North American Products (NAP GLADU) building at 1501 KDF Drive in late April after closing on the property in February.
The relocation is the latest growth step for the business that began in a basement in October of 2000.
During an interview with the River Country Journal, President Mike Eldridge described the family-owned enterprise as "an online source to purchase protective eyewear" for industrial and recreational uses. "We've been online for going on nine years now" and had "consistent growth over the years."
Regarding the relocation, Eldridge said, "We've moved into KDF Drive because it's a larger facility and it gives us the room to expand."
Larger, indeed! The former location on Millard Street had 4,000 square feet that housed all aspects of the business while the new facility is "very close to 15,000 square feet," including 10,000 square feet of warehouse space.
In talking about the previous location, Eldridge said, "We were very tight. We were a little inefficient in doing some things. We were tripping over each other. There wasn't any place to put anything else."
Mike's wife, Kendra, who serves as vice-president, secretary and treasurer of Safety Glasses USA, is pleased with the company's new home and said, "We want to stay here - put down some roots." She said, "It's a beautiful park. There's a little bit of nature, but yet you're right near the highway so we know that people can find us." And, she added, "We are very proud to be among some other great companies here in the park that are also family-owned, family-started, so they have similar interests as we do and similar histories, at least as far as what it takes to get something started and keep it going."
Click Here to continue reading the rest of the article.
Click here to hear the interview with Kendra and Mike Eldridge (32:09/29.4 MB) - conducted by Bruce Snook. | |
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MEDA Region 2 - Highlights on the Northern Lower Peninsula
 Northern Michigan is a popular recreational get away for many in state and out of state residents. With an abundance of lakes, rivers and forests its no wonder tourism is one of Northern Michigan's main industries. During the cool winter months there are plenty activities to keep you busy, such as snowmobiling, skiing, sledding, ice fishing, and hunting. In the summer boating, canoing, kayaking, and tubing keep visitors occupied. Many sand dunes and sunny beaches are all just a short drive away. Whichever season it may be there is sure to be a festival taking place some where. With so much to do and explore, there's more than enough to keep everyone pleased. Click Here to visit the Northern Lower Peninsula webpage.
 13 Colleges and Universities are situated throughout Northern Michigan, among these are; Eastern Michigan University, Spring Arbor University, Norhtwestern Michigan University, Central Michigan University, Baker Community College, Alpena Community College, MidMichigan Community College, Kirtland Community College, Madonna University, Davenport University, and North Central Michigan College. Along with those institutions are also many companies, industries, and organizations.
Northern Lower Peninsula Certified Business Parks:
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