Rob Cleveland knows only too well that in the world of site selectors searching for the best place to anchor their industrial clients, timing is critical. Seemingly everybody in the chase for a new factory, industrial research center, call center, or any other manufacturing-related entity needs the critical data for decision-making yesterday. That’s why Cleveland’s team at Cornerstone Alliance — Berrien County’s lead economic development agency, where he serves as President — recently collaborated with its key utility partner, Indiana Michigan Power Company, to identify key industrial sites throughout portions of Berrien County, as well as commercial development properties in the City of St. Joseph.
Details of the newly developed inventory are included in a recently completed Industrial Property Study, whose focus was identification of sites suitable for industrial development in order to attract new business or to expand existing business in Michigan’s Great Southwest. That study and supporting data was conducted and compiled by Benton Harbor-based Abonmarche Consultants.
Indiana Michigan Power supported the study, which is a powerful tool that enables Cornerstone Alliance to be more responsive to companies, site selectors, real estate brokers and those looking to locate a company or expand an existing business in Berrien County. Nearly 100 properties were reviewed, of which 12 were identified as key sites and are included in the study. Comprehensive details including zoning, topography, soil conditions, proximity, accessibility to utilities and transportation corridors are included in the study; all significant data for industrial and commercial development. When timing is tight, the new study is designed to provide an instant wealth of data to answer some of the most detailed questions, even before they get asked.
Greg Vaughn is Chief Operating Officer & Vice President for Business Development at Cornerstone Alliance. He says, “This study represents a partnership with our economic development partners to identify the best available properties that will thrive based on existing assets and resources.” He points out that, “It is also part of a larger effort of Michigan’s Great Southwest Leadership Council’s focus to share information among Berrien County economic development organizations and municipalities to bring more opportunities to the region. To that end, having access to this pertinent site data will allow Cornerstone Alliance to be responsive with specific details to companies considering Berrien County for development or expansion.”
Abonmarche Consultants played an important role in the development of the industrial study. Christopher Cook is President & CEO of Abonmarche. He says, “The Abonmarche team was able to bring our land surveying, engineering and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) mapping expertise to this project.” He adds, “We assisted in narrowing the list down to the top 12 sites throughout sections of Berrien County, based on the property meeting the detailed criteria as a suitable location for industrial or commercial development.”
Shelley Klug is Economic & Business Development Manager for Indiana Michigan Power. She says, “Indiana Michigan Power supports economic growth in the communities we serve,” adding, “We are proud to partner with Cornerstone Alliance and help provide the resources to enhance business attraction and expansion initiatives. This industrial study will offer critical information about Berrien County’s top inventory, giving prospective businesses and developers better and faster access to attraction and expansion projects.” Klug knows the organization well, having served on the Business Development Team at Cornerstone before hiring on with I&M.
Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is headquartered in Fort Wayne, and its 2,450 employees serve more than 589,000 customers. More than half of its generation is emission-free, including 2,160 MW of nuclear generation in Michigan, 450 MW of purchased wind generation from Indiana, 22 MW of hydro generation in both states and approximately 15 MW of large-scale solar generation in both states. The company’s generation portfolio also includes 2,600 MW of coal-fueled generation in Indiana.
Abonmarche offers comprehensive professional consulting services in engineering, architecture, surveying, marina/waterfront, development, and landscape architecture. Abonmarche has offices in Benton Harbor, Manistee, Battle Creek and South Haven in Michigan, and in South Bend, Valparaiso, Lafayette, Goshen and Hobart in Indiana.
Cornerstone Alliance is a non-profit, investor-governed economic development organization primarily focused on increasing employment opportunities, private sector capital investments and the local tax base in Michigan’s Great Southwest; with specialized business services offered in economically distressed areas.
