Breaking ground for a $20 million dollar, 80 unit apartment development, Whirlpool CEO Marc Bitzer acknowledges that the company has a unique role in Michigan’s Great Southwest. “We’re a big fish in a small pond,” says Bitzer, “and that means we have a special responsibility.” It’s that responsibility, Bitzer says, that led Whirlpool to become the primary developer of the non-subsidized, market-rate rental units that will take shape on North Riverview Drive in the next year.
“Our home is Southwest Michigan,” Bitzer says, “and our birthplace was Benton Harbor, about 1,000 feet from this spot. We’ve stayed close to our roots and we’ll continue to do so.” He sees one of Whirlpool’s biggest challenges locally is attracting young professionals to move to Benton Harbor and St. Joseph. He cites quality of schools and quality and availability of rental housing as huge issues for the individuals Whirlpool wants to hire.
“We could either complain about it and wait. Or we could do something about it. With this project, we chose to do something!” Whirlpool is investing in the apartment complex near two of its major employment centers along Riverview Drive. However, the 80 rental units will be available to non-Whirlpool people as well. Bitzer says that’s one of the major attractions of the project–it affects the entire community beyond Whirlpool’s walls.
Bitzer estimates that Whirlpool hires from 200 to 400 persons every year in Northern Berrien County.
