Two Business Expansions Bring 66 New Jobs to West Michigan

Recycling solutions provider Beacon Recycling expanding in Muskegon, adding 36 jobs and supporting Michigan’s sustainability efforts | Cascade Die Casting investing $6 million to expand in Sparta, adding 30 jobs

 

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced two business expansion projects expected to create a total of 66 new jobs and generate a total capital investment of $23.5 million have received support from the Michigan Strategic Fund. The projects are in the city of Muskegon and the Village of Sparta.

“Today’s investments by these Michigan companies will create 66 good-paying jobs and invest more than $23 million into communities in West Michigan, proving that Michigan is on the move and open for business,” said Governor Whitmer. “Our economic development efforts have helped us bring home tens of thousands of good-paying, middle-class manufacturing jobs back home and expanded economic opportunities for Michiganders in every region of our state. I applaud Beacon Recycling and Cascade Die Casting for their decision to keep growing right here in Michigan, and together, I know we can help anyone ‘make it’ in Michigan.”

“Today’s investments highlight the strength of our advanced manufacturing industry and underscore Team Michigan’s commitment to delivering long-term economic growth for all Michiganders,” MEDC Sr. Vice President of Regional Prosperity Matt McCauley. “We are grateful to the Governor, legislators and local partners for their continued support of our efforts. These projects reflect our commitment to seizing opportunities that make Michigan an even better place for each of our 10 million-plus friends and neighbors to live, work, visit, play, and create futures. We will continue working to win projects, invest in places and support our people as we encourage businesses of all sizes to make it in Michigan.”

Beacon Recycling Adding 36 Jobs in Muskegon, Investing $17.5 Million In Local Economy

Beacon Recycling, Inc., established in 1999, is a metal, paper, and plastic recycling company that provides a single-source solution to sustainable scrap management clients. The company services customers in a wide range of industries including automotive, aerospace, food processors, advanced manufacturing, furniture and medical devices. The company is headquartered in Muskegon and has an additional location in Traverse City, with a total of 35 employees. The company also has a related entity in Grand Rapids, Beacon Grand Rapids, where it employs an additional 25 workers.

Beacon supports foundry companies’ sustainable re-use of production waste materials and plans to expand in response to the increasing green initiatives in the industry. The expansion will include the purchase of a new shredder machine and the addition of a material services division at its Muskegon location. The expansion is expected to generate a total capital investment of $17.5 million and create 36 jobs over the next three years with the support of a $500,000 Micro Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. The company chose to expand in Michigan rather than at a competing site in Northern Indiana because of its longstanding presence, skilled workforce and committed customer base within the state.

“Beacon Recycling is celebrating our 25th year of business and excited to continue our history of successful growth in West Michigan,” said Beacon Recycling COO Grant Bolhuis. “Today we announce significant investment projects in metals processing and recycling infrastructure at our Muskegon recycling hub. We look forward to continuing to grow our recycling capabilities and footprint and appreciate the support from the city of Muskegon as well as the MEDC to make these projects become a reality.”

The project will more than double the company’s size in the state and will bring 36 well-paying manufacturing jobs to a geographically disadvantaged area. The city of Muskegon has offered a 50 percent property tax abatement in support of the project, and the Michigan Strategic Fund has also approved a State Education Tax abatement to be used in conjunction with the locally approved abatement.

“GMED is proud to support the sustainable efforts of Beacon Recycling by assisting with the expansion of its operations and services,” said Greater Muskegon Economic Development President and CEO Marla Schneider. “This expansion is a testament to Muskegon’s commitment to fostering environmentally responsible practices within West Michigan. We're dedicated to working with companies that are driving positive change and creating a more sustainable future for our community.”

Learn more about careers with Beacon Recycling here.

“The city of Muskegon is grateful for this substantial investment from Beacon Recycling, a longstanding corporate partner in our community,” said City of Muskegon Director of Development Services Jake Eckholm. “These 36 new full-time, well-paid positions and nearly $18 million of facilities and equipment investment are another example of Beacon making consistent investments in Muskegon. This project and many others in our city would not be possible without our strong partnership with the MEDC and our local EDO, Greater Muskegon Economic Development.”

“The approval of this project is excellent news for Muskegon, said state Representative Will Snyder (D-Muskegon). “It shows the state’s dedication to supporting local businesses and creating jobs that will benefit our residents and boost our local economy.”

The Micro Michigan Business Development Program is designed to promote business growth, especially in rural areas or areas with high unemployment as well as target industries. The MMBDP provides grants, loans or other economic assistance to businesses for highly competitive projects in Michigan that have fewer job creation numbers than required by the original MBDP guidelines.

Michigan is leading the battery and clean energy race, according to a new report from Climate Power. The report shows Michigan is the number three state nationwide for clean energy investments, with $21.3 billion of investments and 16,699 jobs secured since the passage of President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act in August 2022. The report also notes that Michigan is the sixth highest state for the number of new clean energy jobs and 5th highest for new clean energy investments secured in rural communities.

In addition, Michigan is projected to add 167,000 clean energy jobs in the next 10 years, continuing the state’s leadership as the #1 clean energy job market in the Midwest that grew 4.6 percent between 2021 and 2022, according to Clean Jobs Midwest.

Governor Whitmer is committed to growing Michigan’s economy and investing in our talented workforce and launched the MI Healthy Climate Plan in 2022, a roadmap to lower costs, create jobs, and make Michigan 100 percent carbon neutral by 2050.

Cascade Die Casting Creating 36 jobs in Sparta

Cascade Die Casting Group, Inc. (CDCG), established in 1978 and headquartered in Grand Rapids, is a Tier 1 and Tier 2 aluminum and zinc die cast manufacturer supplying custom engineered products to a variety of industries, including automotive, appliances, electronics, off-road sport, heavy truck and more. The company has operations in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Sparta, Michigan and High Point, North Carolina, with 259 employees at its two locations in Michigan.

The company is experiencing significant growth and increasing customer demand, particularly as automotive OEMs transition to electric vehicle manufacturing. In order to meet demand, CDCG plans to expand at its Sparta location, where it will add equipment and manufacturing space. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $6 million and create 30 jobs with the support of a $180,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. Michigan was chosen for the expansion over a competing site in North Carolina due to the company’s strong employee base and two locations in the state.

“We are excited about this investment, which represents a significant milestone for Cascade Die Casting Group,” said Patrick Greene, CEO of Cascade Die Casting Group. “Our growth projections, primarily in the automotive sector, necessitate this strategic decision, allowing us to better serve our customers and contribute to our employees’ well-being by creating job opportunities and improving our employee environment.”

“Cascade Die Casting has been an influential economic driver in West Michigan for decades, and our whole community benefits from its successes,” said Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids). “Its expansion is an affirmation of what we already know to be true: not only is Michigan the best place to do business, it’s also a place where working folks want to stay and build their lives. As we’re seeing in this case and countless others, our top-notch workforce is the strongest magnet we have for attracting potential job creators, and it’s the key to making our state competitive.”

The expansion encompasses investments in energy efficient furnaces, advanced robotics and automation equipment, facility enhancements and employee areas to provide manufacturing capacity, enhance manufacturing capabilities, and elevate employee well-being. Cascade Die Casting Group's dedication to innovation and modernization underscores its mission to be a leader in the die casting industry.

“We value our partnership with The Right Place, the Village of Sparta and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Their continuous support has played a vital role in our journey toward growth and expansion,” Greene said. “This collaboration is a testament to the strong spirit of cooperation and shared vision for economic development and job creation.”

The project will bring immediate job growth and further boosts Michigan’s global leadership in mobility and automotive manufacturing. The Right Place plans to assist the company in finding candidates for the newly created positions. Individuals interested in careers with Cascade Die Casting Group should visit https://www.cascade-cdc.com/careers/.

"We’re thrilled to partner with the MEDC to ensure Cascade Die Casting continues its growth right here in West Michigan,” said Eric Icard, Senior Business Development Manager at The Right Place and project lead. “Since 1978, Cascade Die Casting has remained a pillar in Greater Grand Rapids, and this expansion serves as a testament to our region’s dedication to the manufacturing sector. We’re happy to see their continued success and we look forward to the exciting new opportunities they bring to the people in our communities as a result."

Cascade Die Casting Group, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of aluminum and zinc die cast components primarily for the automotive, appliance and consumer electronics industries. With a commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, Cascade Die Casting has established itself as a trusted partner in the manufacturing sector. The company operates facilities in Sparta, Michigan as well as High Point, North Carolina and Grand Rapids, Michigan, employing a skilled workforce dedicated to delivering excellence in die casting solutions.

“The Village of Sparta is excited to be supporting the expansion of Cascade Die Casting,” said Sparta Village Manager Jim Lower. “Our village council makes business expansion and retention a top priority. We are pleased that job creators continue to see the Village of Sparta as a great environment to invest in growing their business.”

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.