By: Deborah Johnson Wood
Betten Automotive Group plans to renovate a 19-acre Brownfield Redevelopment Site in Muskegon to create 113,000 square feet of commercial buildings adjacent to the company’s existing 9-acre site. State a local tax capture of $1.3 million supports the environmental cleanup of the east and west sides of S. Henry St. to make way for the $15 million development.
The project will create some 36 new sales, administrative, and clerical jobs.
“We’re still completing the work plan to determine what environmental cleanup needs to be done,” says Cathy Brubaker-Clarke, Muskegon’s economic development director who worked closely with Betten on the project. “One factor is that the fill dirt used years ago came from a former foundry.”
Brubaker-Clarke says Betten’s growth warranted expansion and the company wanted to stay in Muskegon but was looking at options outside the city.
“This definitely benefits the city with what Betten brings to the city and the number of jobs they bring,” she adds. “Betten is very successful and this will give them a better place to display their cars and have room for traffic flow. This will greatly improve the Henry Street corridor and I think we’re going to see other improvements follow because of it.”
The project includes the expansion of the existing 30,000-square-foot building to 68,000 square feet on the east side of the street, and construction of two new auto dealership stores to replace the used car office on the west side.
The project will be LEED certified.
Source: Cathy Brubaker-Clarke, City of Muskegon; Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Deborah Johnson Wood is the development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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