NEWS: Gov. Whitmer announces transportation economic development grant that will support 66 new jobs in the city of Beaverton

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2019
CONTACT: Michael Leon, TEDF Program Manager, MDOT Office of Economic Development, 517-241-2568 

Gov. Whitmer announces transportation economic development grant that will support 66 new jobs in the city of Beaverton

March 27, 2019 -- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has awarded a state transportation economic development fund grant that will support 66 new jobs in the city of Beaverton, Gladwin County. The Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF) Category A grant totaling $484,956 will leverage more than $17,000,000 in private investment, at a private/public investment ratio of over 35-to-1.

             Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics in Beaverton manufactures fluid-handling components and assemblies used in bio-pharmaceutical and medical processes worldwide. The company's facility includes a mix of manufacturing space that hosts extrusion, molding and assembly, warehouse, offices, and a product development center with test labs. The company is more than doubling the size of their facility from 61,250 square feet to 148,750 square feet to meet the increased demand for its products. The Beaverton location was selected over competing sites in the United States, France, and China.

             "I am pleased that we were able to work with Saint-Gobain and our local partners to support the transportation needs of this company's expansion," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. "This underscores the link between transportation investments and economic development. As a state, we need to invest more in our roads so that employees have safe routes to work and companies have unimpeded access to markets."

             As part of its expansion, Saint-Gobain is reconfiguring its campus and establishing new routes for its freight shipments. While the new route provides more convenient access into Saint-Gobain's campus, the condition of both roads presented an obstacle to the company's expansion plans. Glidden Road is currently weight-restricted and would force the company to reduce their truck loads when frost laws are in effect, thereby increasing their transportation costs. In addition, the pavement on Terry Diane Street is nearing the end of its operational life. The increase in traffic generated by Saint-Gobain will accelerate this deterioration, effectively shortening the life span of this roadway.

             To assure continued access to the transportation network and enable full truck loads during seasonal weight restrictions, the City of Beaverton will reconstruct Glidden Road from M-18 to Terry Diane Street. Additionally, the city will resurface Terry Diane Street from Glidden Road to the company entrance on Terry Diane Street, approximately 1,325 feet south of Glidden Road. This roadwork will enable Saint-Gobain to proceed with their $17.1 million expansion, resulting in 66 new full-time positions over the next three years.

             The grant is the result of a collaborative effort with the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to attract the expansion. Additional expansion-related roadwork is being funded by a grant from the EDA and a legislative earmark.

             "Saint-Gobain is excited to continue to work with the City of Beaverton, Gladwin County, and the State of Michigan to develop the infrastructure to support the growth of our business," said Mark Rovoll, engineering manager at Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics - Beaverton. "The MDOT grant for road improvements will create much needed accessibility to the site. These roads are heavily utilized by our growing truck and employee traffic and will be in place to benefit the community for many years."

             The overall cost of this project is $808,260. The TEDF Category A grant share of the project is $484,956, or 60 percent, with the City of Beaverton providing the remaining $323,304 in matching funds.


             Enacted in 1987 and reauthorized in 1993, the TEDF helps finance highway, road and street projects that are critical to the movement of people and products, and getting workers to their jobs, materials to growers and manufacturers, and finished goods to consumers.

             TEDF "Category A" or "Targeted Industries Program" grants provide state funding for public roadway improvements that allow road agencies to respond quickly to the transportation needs of expanding companies and eliminate inadequate roadways as an obstacle to private investment and job creation. Eligible road agencies include MDOT, county road commissions, cities and villages. More information about the program is available online at www.Michigan.gov/TEDF.

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