You can likely expect to see earth moving equipment on site very soon now that the Michigan Strategic Fund board has approved both a major Whirlpool apartment complex on Riverview Drive and a sizable addition to the appliance manufacturer’s St. Joseph Tech Center.
State Rep. Pauline Wendzel has announced that the Michigan Strategic Fund board approved both plans in a meeting this morning including a request from Harbor Shores Community Redevelopment LLC in collaboration with Whirlpool Corporation for a $750,000 Michigan Community Revitalization Program performance-based grant to support the Harbor Shores Community Redevelopment project, and a Berrien County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority request for a brownfield work plan to support Whirlpool Corporation’s Global Laundry and Dishwasher Technical Center.
The funding will support a collaborative Community Development and Business Development project that will construct a new four-story residential apartment building on Riverview Drive in the City of Benton Harbor as well as a new two-story office and research facility in the city of St. Joseph, representing more than $80 million in total capital investment in Berrien County.
State Rep. Wendzel says, “Like so many other communities across our state, Southwest Michigan has not been spared from the crisis of lack of affordable housing,” and adds, “This lack of housing not only increases costs for our current residents who may be looking to move, but also makes it incredibly difficult for our local businesses to attract top-tier talent to live, work, and raise their families in our community.”
Rep. Wendzel also thanked Whirlpool Corporation for their continued investment in Southwest Michigan, saying, “When Whirlpool announced this project, they once again proved their commitment to our community and the 400 full-time employees of their tech center,” while adding, “This funding will help ensure Whirlpool can remain on the cutting edge of creative and innovative appliance engineering, and I couldn’t be happier they’ve chosen to make this investment right here in Southwest Michigan.”
You can read about both projects form earlier stories at these links:
