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Request Foods to created 250 new jobs
2/19/2010
By ANDREA GOODELL
The Holland Sentinel
Posted Feb 19, 2010 @ 05:00 AM
Holland Township, MI — As many as 250 new jobs could be added at Request Foods over the next five years as the company again expands.
“That’s a very big number. That’s why we’re very excited about it,” Holland Township Manager Don Komejan said. “The total impact (Request Foods) has on this community is just phenomenal.”
All is contingent on state approval, officials said.
The company that had $180 million in annual sales last year estimates $240 million in sales this year, company President Jack DeWitt said.
“We’ve been blessed a lot over there since 1990,” he said.
Request Foods expects to invest $35.3 million in a new 200,000-plus-square-foot additional facility north of its existing plant at 3460 John F. Donnelly Drive and a new waste water pre-treatment facility. The plan includes 20 acres of created wetlands to mitigate the filling in of 10 acres on the site.
The company would pay no taxes on the new facility for 12 years. In the 13th year, Request Foods will pay 25 percent of the taxes on the new building, 50 percent in year 14, 75 percent in year 15 and 100 percent after that.
The company expects to create 155 of those jobs in the first three years, averaging a starting wage of $10.30 per hour plus benefits for entry level positions.
“To me this project puts them on that 20-year path to growth,” said Randy Thelen President of economic development group Lakeshore Advantage. “In terms of economic recovery, it has to be one step at a time. Today, this project represents a major step in the right direction.”
Automotive, office furniture and food manufacturing are the three major components of West Michigan’s manufacturing sector, Thelen said. The local food industry has seen its share of good news lately, he said, citing expansions at Boar’s Head, Sara Lee, Hudsonville Ice Cream, Quincy Street Meats and others over the past couple of years.
After Thursday’s approval by the Holland Township Board, the frozen food manufacturer is heading to various state agencies for the final go-ahead on tax abatements.
The Agriculture Processing Renaissance Zone, Community Development Block Grant, property tax abatements and other incentives totaling $20 million require the approval of Ottawa County, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Department of Agriculture, Michigan Economic Growth Authority and, ultimately, the signature of Gov. Jennifer Granholm. That could come by April and construction begin by June.
As part of the deal, Holland Township would agree to waive $100,000 in utility tap-in fees and build a new influent pipe for about $600,000.
The permanent jobs could start by spring 2011.
The company’s existing 370,000 square-foot facility sits on 20 acres in Holland Township and employs 524 people.
Request makes nearly 800 different custom frozen entrees, side dishes, appetizers, sauces, desserts and soups.
“We’ve looked around at other areas of the country,” DeWitt said. The company has had proposals from Virginia and Tennessee, “But we like it here in West Michigan,” DeWitt said. “We need some help because the frozen food business is very competitive.”
Copyright 2010 The Holland Sentinel. Some rights reserved
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