Michigan road grants to help local manufacturers

The state’s Transportation Economic Development Fund will disburse nearly $1 million in funding to support “economically important” construction projects tied to private plant expansions.    The Michigan Department of Transportation on Friday awarded almost $1 million in state economic transportation grants to help specific companies grow operations and create jobs.
   Michigan’s Transportation Economic Development Fund helps fund economically important projects, the department said in a statement. Officials can target state funding for public roadway improvements that allow local agencies and MDTO to respond quickly to the transportation needs of expanding companies and eliminate inadequate roadways that make private investment otherwise difficult.
   A $141,638 grant for the City of Yale will help pave a gravel road to support the expansion of Mill Creek Metal Works and make it easier to ship products during all seasons. Concerns about road access had company officials considering a move out of state, according to a MDOT news release.
   Yale will also receive $124,865 to help construct a new water main loop into Redall Industries, a supplier of roll-formed parts and stamped components for the automotive and appliance industries, and partially reconstruct a road at the company’s entrance to accommodate the water service. Redell plans to invest $5 million to expand its Yale facility after considering investing in its Mexico location.
   The City of Howell will resurface a road and both approaches to a CSX rail grade crossing with the help of a $267,200 grant. Thai Summit Corp., a sheet metal stamping company that is a Tier One supplier to the Big Three automakers, is investing $52.5 million to expand its plant and create 100 jobs. The company considered expanding in Kentucky, where the Ford F-250 is produced, but preferred the Howell location due to its highway accessibility to the company’s main customers and rail access for additional shipping, MDOT said. However, the road from the highway to the plant has severely deteriorated sections that cause excessive war on company and employee vehicles.
   Another $297,147 will go towards the installation of a traffic signal to improve safety and alleviate congestion at the exit of Agape Plastics, Inc., in Ottawa County, as the company expands its facility. Without the improvement, Agape’s other option was to relocate its business to Ohio.
   The City of Walker plans to replace traffic signals and add a dedicated left-turn phase for traffic to support outbound freight traffic at Plasan North America, a Tier One supplier in the areas of composite materials and military ground vehicles. The company is investing $12.3 million to expand its facility and transfer 121 workers from another location by 2017.