A major new food product testing and production kitchen is bound for Southwest Michigan thanks to the hard work of a couple of former Stevensville Village Managers turned economic development professionals.
Shabaka Gibson, Vice President of Business Retention for Battle Creek Unlimited, worked with his boss, Joe Sobieralski, the President & CEO of the organization and others in the Battle Creek community to garner a $2.1-million Economic Development Administration grant for the development of a new Southwest Michigan Accelerator Kitchen.
Gibson tells us that the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration approved an economic development grant totaling $2,092,492 for the facility located in Battle Creek. The grant, along with locally raised matching funds, will help with the $4 million renovation of the property located at 30 W. Van Buren Street in Battle Creek.
The facility will be used to accelerate second-stage food businesses in the region. The new facility will provide space for product testing and production as well as growth-oriented training for businesses using the facility. Once completed, the project will help catalyze the next generation of economic growth in a critical local industry cluster. The project will bolster job creation, attract private investment, and strengthen the economy in Battle Creek and the region.
Both Gibson and Sobieralski served the Village of Stevensville at separate times in the role of Village Manager. Gibson also worked for Berrien County Economic Development and Sobieralski headed up the Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance in Niles for three years after also serving a stint as the City Manager for the City of Bangor.
Regarding the EDA grant, U.S. Senator Gary Peters says, “This pandemic has been a particularly challenging time for Michigan small businesses, and it is critical that they have the support they need to start, grow and succeed,” and adds, “This grant will spur economic growth and build upon the food innovation tradition that’s existed in Battle Creek for generations. I applaud Battle Creek Unlimited for building community support around this project, and I look forward to continuing to work with them.”
For his part, Gibson says, “Battle Creek Unlimited, in partnership with St. Philip Church and the Diocese of Kalamazoo, are pleased to be awarded the EDA funding for the Southwest Michigan Accelerator Kitchen. This investment will support many food-related small businesses that are looking for a place to grow.” He adds, “Battle Creek has a rich history of food related companies and food innovation. The existing talent and assets in this area makes food a strategic growth industry for Battle Creek.”
The 20,000-sf facility, owned by St. Philip, will also support the church’s healthy food and community wellness initiatives according to Father John Fleckenstein, Pastor of the church, who says, “We are very excited and grateful to see this tremendous opportunity coming to fruition. Because of the hard work of so many, an old, empty, yet historic building has new life breathed into it. This new chapter begins driven by a dynamic partnership that will help serve the poor and vulnerable through health and nutrition programing, grow entrepreneurship, and strengthen our beloved Battle Creek community.”
The initial investment for the project from the Diocese of Kalamazoo was made possible through a restricted gift. Other project funders include the Kellogg Company Twenty-Five Year Employees’ Fund, the Battle Creek Community Foundation, the Binda Foundation, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development Foundation, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and many individual donors.
In addition to a $500,000 total gift in support of the Southwest Michigan Accelerator Kitchen, Kellogg Company will provide subject matter expertise and support to Accelerator participants and offer small-scale manufacturing support via the pilot plant, located in the W.K. Kellogg Institute for Food and Nutrition Research also in Battle Creek.
Steve Cahillane, Kellogg Company Chairman and CEO, says, “Kellogg is proud to be part of this ambitious endeavor and we look forward to sharing our time, talent and resources, which will enhance our ongoing commitment to the community.” He adds, “A true visionary and food entrepreneur, W.K. Kellogg’s legacy lives on today across the globe – more than a century later – and nowhere is it more prevalent than right here in our hometown, where we are an active part of the local food ecosystem.”
Established in 1972, Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) is a private, non-profit corporation which serves as the economic development arm for the City of Battle Creek and manages the Fort Custer Industrial Park. The Fort Custer Industrial Park is home to more than 80 businesses, including 25 international companies, and employs over 13,000 people. BCU’s mission is to build a strong community by driving strategic investment and job creation.
