Expansion continues unabated for International Diagnostic Systems (IDS) parent corporation Neogen, as they slate a new investment of $1.3-million to rehabilitate a shuttered facility in Lansing, their headquarters community.
Neogen’s IDS operations have been a part of the St. Joseph community for decades with facilities on Cleveland Avenue just south of the Hawthorne Industrial Park in St. Joseph Charter Township. According to the Michigan Business Network, the Lansing Economic Area Partnership and Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero announced on Friday that Neogen will “create a new home for its Ideal Instruments subsidiary.” That division was founded in 1931 and is an industry leader in the development of precision veterinary drug delivery instruments.
Neogen and its IDS division in St. Joseph develop and market products dedicated to food and animal safety.
The Michigan Business Network quotes Neogen Treasurer Jim Houthoofd as saying, “We’ve been in Lansing for a long time and have made a considerable investment and commitment in the community.” He added, “We’re excited to expand our workforce and increase our impact.”
The $1.3-million project will include a complete makeover of a building which had been deemed functionally obsolete by the city of Lansing. In addition to the rehabilitation, the project will result in nearly 40,000 square feet of new office and warehouse distribution space for Ideal Instruments and has been projected to create 25 new full-time jobs there along with some 15 to 20 construction jobs in the interim.
Neogen has asked for a brownfield incentive from Lansing, which would reimburse the company nearly $200,000 over the next 19-years in brownfield costs. Those costs would be funded up front by Neogen, as part of the overall project cost, but would be reimbursed through future increased property taxes, according to the Michigan Business Network which also reports that the plan is subject to approval from the Lansing City Council.
