Food companies are increasingly serving up business investment and job growth on the Western side the state.
This past week, for example, officials at Request Foods indicated its expansion plans could bring more than 250 new jobs to the Holland Township area over the next five years. The company, which makes nearly 800 different custom frozen entrees, side dishes appetizers, sauces, desserts and soups, currently has a 370,000 square-foot Township facility that employs 524 people.
Subject to government approval, Request Foods intends to invest $35.5 million in a new facility spanning more than 200,000 square feet. The company would pay no taxes on the new facility for 12 years but would assume a progressive tax bill up to 100% of its assessment in year 15, according to a report by the Holland Sentinel. Some 150 jobs would be created in the first three years, averaging $10.31 per hour plus benefits for entry level positions.
"To me, this puts them on that 20-year path to growth," Randy Thelen, president of the economic development group Lakeshore Advantage, told the Sentinel. "In terms of economic recovery, it has to be one step at a time. Today, this project represents a major step in the right direction."
According to Thelen, automotive, office furniture and food production are the three major components of the area's manufacturing sector. The local food industry has also seen expansion from firms including Boar's Head, Sara Lee, Hudsonville Ice Cream and Quincy Street Meats during the past two years.
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