Contractors will likely begin turning dirt any day now that the final clearance has been delivered for a new on-campus day care center at Whirlpool’s global headquarters complex on M-63 north of Benton Harbor. The new facility to be operated by KinderCare for Whirlpool Corporation carries a price tag of more than $8-million and will employ 39 full time workers on an extended day schedule for use by Whirlpool employees.
Hopes are to have the new facility completed and ready to press into action by October of next year. Cornerstone Alliance Business Development Manager Cathy Tilley and Whirlpool’s Jeff Noel presented their case for a 12-year Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption to get the project underway, and the Benton Township Board of Trustees granted final approval at tonight’s meeting.
Noel expressed his appreciation on behalf of the appliance manufacturer calling the forthcoming day care operation, “A very strategic and important development that will continue to enable Whirlpool to be the world’s largest major home appliance company, headquartered and operating right here in Southwest Michigan.” He added, “In order to do that we have to be able to maintain facilities and operations that will allow us to retain great talent” necessary to maintain the number one rank in the industry.
Noel says Whirlpool is “willing to provide opportunities to all employees, regardless of what their incomes are, so they themselves can take advantage of employer-sponsored, on-site day care that includes not only extended hours, but also education programs and things that really help young people to get a jump-start to be successful.”
Noting that at the same meeting Gast Manufacturing garnered tax exemptions on more than $6-million in laboratory enhancements and technical advancements at the same meeting, Noel thanked the Gast team for continued investment in the community of Michigan’s Great Southwest, saying, “It’s the interdependencies that exist between businesses that are growing, that helps bring retail which in turn brings funding and dollars back into our school systems, to support all of the young people in our area.” He added, “We’re very much proud to be part of this community and proud to share with Gast the fact that both of us have been in the community a grand total of almost 2017 years now, give or take a couple of months.”
Both companies thanked the Benton Township board for their leadership, cooperation and support which sets the tone creating a community that people want to live, work and play in every day.
For more on Whirlpool’s child care facility, you can read the original story on that by clicking the link below with additional details of the plan:
https://www.moodyonthemarket.com/whirlpool-corporation-plans-on-site-child-care-for-world-hq-campus/
