(The Center Square) – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the Michigan Strategic Fund will work toward supporting about 165 new jobs in three separate communities across the state.
The decision represents a total $17.6 million capital investment in Lexington, Ithaca and Standish. The fund will support the creation of entry-level manufacturing jobs in rural Michigan communities.
“I applaud these three companies for their decision to invest here in Michigan,” Whitmer said. “Let’s keep working together to win projects that bring good-paying jobs to every region of the state.”
Gielow Pickles, Inc. will build a new facility in Lexington, creating 172 new jobs in the production, refrigeration, fermentation, grading and packaging of pickles, peppers and sauerkraut.
“We feel Michigan is a great state to do business in,” Vice President Craig Gielow said. “These MEDC funds will be very helpful in our ability to expand our facility for needed production, storage and other related agricultural functions.”
The Michigan Business Development Program grant will provide $1 million toward construction of the facility. The project is estimated to produce $10 million in capital investment. The company recently expanded facilities in Washington and Florida as well.
“For five generations we have been making top quality pickles in Michigan and we plan to be here now for generations to come,” Gielow said.
The Trinity Truck and Trailer Service, LLC is implementing a two-phase expansion of facilities in Ithaca. As a milk tanker transport company, they will produce about $6.75 million in capital investment and 55 jobs through their new facilities. The investment is supported by a $192,500 Micro Michigan Business Development Program Grant.
“Trinity Truck and Trailer Service has been a proud member of the Ithaca community since 2018,” said Trinity Truck and Trailer owner and manager Ron Lupa. “We specialize in truck and trailer repair and the manufacturing of tanker trailers for dairy, fertilizer, and other non-coded tanks. We are proud of our team’s hard work and accomplishments to keep the trucks and trailers of the community and surrounding areas running safely.”
The first phase of the project includes the production of stainless steel milk storage silo manufacturing. Despite ranking sixth in American milk production, there are currently no in-state milk silo manufacturing facilities.
Magline, Inc. is expanding production facilities for heavy duty hand trucks and dollies in Standish. The company acquired a vacant 70,000 square foot facility, which will create a $875,000 capital investment as well as 10 jobs. The expansion is sponsored by a $100,000 Micro Michigan Business Development Program grant.
