For Immediate Release
June 9, 2022
Contact: Debbie Kelly, Vice President of Operations
The Enterprise Group of Jackson
Phone: 517-358-1599
Email: dkelly@enterprisegroup.org
(June 9, 2022) The Enterprise Group of Jackson, Jackson County, Blackman Charter Township, and the Blackman Local Development Finance Authority announced the Official Groundbreaking Ceremony of the new Jackson Technology Park North will occur on Wednesday, June 15 at 3:30 PM.
The Jackson Technology Park North (JTPN) is the newest expansion of the Township’s Jackson Technology Park industrial/technology park created by the Local Development Finance Authority (BLDFA). The BLDFA was created in 1991 with the purpose of funding infrastructure needs of an industrial development to attract TAC Manufacturing. Since its creation, additional companies have joined the industrial park, including Technique, BASF/Chemetall, JSP, JSP Sheet Foam LLC.
Last April, Jackson County was awarded a $6 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant for infrastructure improvements at JTPN. The grant is being used to complete road, sidewalk, water, and sewer infrastructure improvements at the Park. The improvements will create shovel-ready sites for industrial development. The project is receiving matching funds of $1.5 million from Blackman Charter Township. 140 acres is available for development for new manufacturing facilities.
Tim Rogers, President of The Enterprise Group of Jackson (EG) said the EG has been working on developing this new industrial park for the past three years. Rogers has said one of Jackson Countys biggest challenges in attracting investment is the lack of shovel-ready land for development. "This $5.9 million EDA grant, along with $1.5 million from Blackman Charter Township, will provide the infrastructure for a shovel-ready industrial park to meet the needs of new and expanding manufacturers in Jackson County. The new park will provide for technology-based manufacturing jobs for the people in and around Jackson County,” said Rogers.
Rogers said The Enterprise Group has teamed with Blackman Charter Township, its Local Development Finance Authority, Jackson County and the Jackson County Department of Transportation on the expansion of the park.
Participants joining Rogers in the groundbreaking ceremony include EG Chairman Tim Sparks, Blackman Charter Township Supervisor Pete Jancek, Lee Shirey, U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration, Dustin Krasny, representing Congressman Tim Walberg, Nicole Whitehead, MEDC Site Development Director, Steve Shotwell, Jackson County Board of Commissioners Chairman. JTPN is located on farmland north of Chemetall and Technique on County Farm Road in Blackman Township.
Media are invited to the ceremony, with photo opportunities of the site and a ceremonial turning of the shovel following remarks.
Photos of the site are available for publication and unlimited use here:
https://enterprisegroup.org/jackson-technology-park-north-photo-library/