A food products company is spending $205 million to expand its operations in Holland Charter Township in a move expected to create 198 jobs.
Holland-based Request Foods, a frozen entrees, sides and skillet meal copacking company, said Tuesday, Oct. 26, it will add a 145,000-square-foot cold storage warehouse and an 89,000-square-foot ready-to-eat foods manufacturing facility and renovate an existing 30,000-square-foot warehouse, as well as enhance production capacity by adding 112,000 square feet to its Greenly Street location.
The project is expected to lead to the creation of 198 jobs over the next four years.
Lakeshore Advantage, an economic development agency that assists employers in Ottawa and Allegan counties, as well as Warner Norcross + Judd, Request Foods’ counsel, connected the company with local resources to support the project.
“We were able to come alongside Request Foods as an extended member of their team on this expansion project, understand their growth milestones, and deploy state and local resources to support their expansion in Holland Charter Township,” said Jennifer Owens, Lakeshore Advantage president. “We are pleased to support Request Foods through their expansion process and commend their commitment to West Michigan.”
The company said it is excited to continue its history of growth in West Michigan by investing in four major projects in the township in the next few years.
“While we received enticing offers to expand in other states, our commitment to Michigan, coupled with our desire to ensure Holland is recognized as an area of choice to live and work, precipitated our decision to expand locally,” said Menaka Abel, Request Foods CFO. “We are grateful for the cooperation we have received from Holland Charter Township, Ottawa County and the state of Michigan officials — along with the support we have received from Lakeshore Advantage and our partners at Warner Norcross + Judd, which enabled us to bring our expansion plans to fruition.”
West Michigan Works! is supporting the project with a workforce hiring and training plan valued at $632,650. The Michigan Strategic Fund contributed a $6.93 million community development block grant, a $2 million business development program grant, a $2,141,100 state essential services exemption and a six-mill state education tax exemption estimated at $2,565,062 over 12 years.
Holland Charter Township proposed support for the project in the form of a 12-year industrial facilities tax exemption valued at about $10.4 million that will go in front of the township board at a later date.
Additionally, Michigan Economic Development Corporation approved support for an agricultural renaissance zone that will support the project with an estimated $11,060,265 in property tax abatement that will require final approval from the Michigan Department of Agriculture later this year.
