A grant of $6 million has been announced for the Midwest Energy and Communications Southwest Michigan Advanced Research and Technology Park in Cassopolis. The grant will be used for the construction of road, sewer, and water infrastructure needed for the 234 acre industrial park. Congressman Fred Upton helped to secure the grant through the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration. He spoke with WSJM News about the park.
“The Economic Development Administration worked with us and the governor’s office, and I’ve been working with some earmarks to try to help it as well,” Upton said. “It’s real job creation, and it’ll happen within the next two or three years, assuming everything is done right. Real exciting news for Cass County.”
Upton says the industrial park in Cassopolis will mean hundreds of jobs for the region.
“You’re going to see a number of businesses attracted to that part of the state and likely to come, and the CBA grant is just a real sweetener to make sure that it happens.”
The project is funded under the EDA’s Assistance to Nuclear Closure Communities program that seeks to alleviate the effects of sudden job losses due to nuclear plant closures. Upton says as the closure of the Palisades plant draws near, the new industrial park will help the region absorb the job losses.
