Battle Creek

If you’ve ever started your day with a bowl of corn flakes, you’ve tasted a bit of Battle Creek’s history. Breakfast cereal was invented here, in the midst of a feud between the famous Kellogg brothers. Sojourner Truth made her home here, and the U.S. Army set up shop at Camp Custer just outside town. Battle Creek’s history has a little bit of everything that makes Michigan great: food and agriculture, civil rights, national service, health and wellness. Today, the city thrives and evolves with each fresh pour of ideas and energy, shaping its future one bite at a time.

Learn more about how the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is supporting the success of Battle Creek, the “Cereal City.”

Investing in Battle Creek’s Entrepreneurs and Innovators

Battle Creek is proof that a bite-sized idea can create a big impact, especially with the right support and ingredients.

Battle Creek Food Reimagined (BCFR) is one of Michigan’s 27 designated Small Business Support Hubs and also serves as a SmartZone, funded by MEDC and community partners, with a goal to aid in the growth of food businesses at every stage in their journeys. A collaboration of leading industry experts passionate about the food industry, growth of business and the City of Battle Creek, BCFR offers a thriving ecosystem providing access to leading industry experts, an exceptional network of food consultants, research and development facilities and custom-tailored learning support systems. With free workshops like “Profitability of Your Mobile Food Business” or “What’s Cookin’ in BC” and resources from partners including the Food Finance Institute, BCFR is investing in the people that create a healthy and vibrant food system.

One of the people contributing to Battle Creek’s food scene is Javier Fortoso. As the owner of Torti Taco, Fortoso has been serving up authentic Mexican cuisine in Battle Creek since February 2016. From its award-winning tacos – besting the competition in the 2018 Taco Showdown Competition in Detroit – to a robust salsa bar, his restaurant on Beckley Road has been a consistent presence, and its second location was a welcome addition to the downtown from 2021 through 2025, adding a layer of culture within the heart of Battle Creek.

Torti Taco’s offerings come from special family recipes, blending the flavors of Cuernavaca, Mexico and San Diego, California. As Fortoso continues to evolve his business, his determination to find a new way forward demonstrates both his commitment to the cuisine and the resilience of Battle Creek’s support network.

Did You Know These Facts about Battle Creek? 

🏛️ Abolitionist and activist Sojourner Truth called Battle Creek home for the last 27 years of her life and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery. A 12-foot-tall sculpture of her can be found in Battle Creek’s Monument Park.

🥣 Battle Creek is known as “Cereal City, USA” because it is the birthplace of both Kellogg’s and Post breakfast cereal companies.

🎖️ During World War I, Battle Creek was the second home to the "doughboys" who passed through the Army training center at Camp Custer. Later renamed Fort Custer, the base was reactivated during World War II. Today, Fort Custer's facilities are used by the Michigan National Guard and other branches of the armed forces, while over 33,000 veterans have their final resting place at Fort Custer National Cemetery.

Placemaking in Battle Creek

The MEDC has played an integral part in revitalization and placemaking efforts in Battle Creek. That is especially true for The Milton, formerly known as the historic and iconic Heritage Tower downtown.

Originally built in the 1930s for Old Merchants National Bank & Trust Company, the National Register-listed building was vacant for more than 10 years and required significant investment to address brownfield conditions and complete an appropriate historic rehabilitation. The Heritage Tower project transformed the historic 19-story building in the heart of downtown Battle Creek into a vibrant mixed-use development.

Over $32 million in investment was required to restore The Milton, which features 85 apartment units and 32,000 square feet of commercial space along Michigan Avenue. The MEDC first became engaged in redevelopment discussions in 2013 with a previous development team whose project did not come to fruition. In addition to the MEDC, the Heritage Tower BC LLC project team had support from the City of Battle Creek as well as key community partners including the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Battle Creek Unlimited and Battle Creek Community Foundation.

The project was awarded a Michigan Community Revitalization Program economic assistance loan and equity investment; in addition, the City of Battle Creek Brownfield Redevelopment Authority received MSF approval of $2,426,600 in local and school tax capture for site preparation.

Thanks to this support from the MEDC, this jewel of a building will be enjoyed by residents and visitors in the years to come.

The MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places (PSCP) program has also supported projects in Battle Creek that provide public improvements, including a $50,000 matching grant in 2020 for a new splash pad at Claude Evans Park. In July 2021, the community celebrated the ribbon cutting for the Wet Safari Splash Pad, where families can cool down and enjoy summer days in the city’s recreational hub. The MEDC also provided $50,000 in matching funds through the PSCP program for a new state-of-the-art history education center at the Battle Creek Regional History Museum, helping to instill a sense of pride in the community and provide space for learning.

MEDC-Supported Business Projects

The ebb and flow of the Battle Creek economy is tied in part to the movements of its most famous employer.  In December 2023, WK Kellogg Co leaders announced plans to retain production in Battle Creek and drive efficiency through investments in technology and training, reversing a previous decision to move production out of state. This project planned to retain approximately 170 jobs and create at least 43 new high-paying jobs, with a total capital investment projected to be at least $44 million.

It was supported by a $5 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant and a 15-year MSF Designated Renaissance Zone. In July 2025, Ferrero announced an agreement to acquire WK Kellogg Co, stating that, “After the transaction closes, Battle Creek, MI will remain a core location for the company and will be Ferrero’s headquarters for North America cereal.”

Along with breakfast cereals, some of the economic development strategies used throughout Michigan to revitalize communities have their origins in Battle Creek. For over 50 years, MEDC partner Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) has helped people and businesses find ways to create economic opportunity in Southwest Michigan.  BCU, a private, nonprofit corporation, serves as the business and economic development arm for the City of Battle Creek.

BCU was established in 1972 and made Battle Creek among the first communities to make a marketing strategy of workforce development and customized training. Over the decades since, BCU has leveraged state policy and resources, including its partnership with the MEDC, to attract business investment from abroad as well as support the area’s home-grown corporations:

• One of the first North American production facilities of Hi-Lex Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer of control cables, is located in Battle Creek, supporting over 300 direct and indirect jobs.
• More than 2,100 employees are based at DENSO’s thermal manufacturing facility in Battle Creek, Michigan, established in 1984 as the company’s first North American production location. In 2023, DENSO announced plans to support vehicle electrification, including a line dedicated to providing BEV-compatible products to an OEM who is expanding BEV production in North America. The project, secured through an investment mission to Japan, was expected to generate a total capital investment of up to $63 million with MSF approval of a 15-year, 100-percent SESA Exemption with an estimated value of up to $1,433,250.
• DENSO is also an active member on the MEDC’s Talent Action Team, and participates in a major expansion of technical learning programs with Kellogg Community College announced in December 2024. In the collaboration, the company has also partnered with the state to develop and pilot the Michiganders Scholars program to enhance the talent pipeline for the EV transition and to upskill those already in the workforce.

Visiting Battle Creek

In Battle Creek, spring blooms across its parks in spectacular fashion, from Fragrant Hill to Historic Bridge Park. The summer is full of festivals, including the National Cereal Fest and the Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival. And no matter what season, Battle Creek’s restaurants are full of flavor, while Firekeepers Casino and Hotel offers Las Vegas-style gaming, concerts and other events.

Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek is one of Michigan’s largest zoos and is open from spring to fall. The zoo is home to many animals, including Species Survival Plan animals, a coordinated effort between all zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to improve the genetics and survivability of threatened and endangered species. Explore this natural zoo, feed the giraffes, see a lion face to face, ride the train and carousel and turn experiences into memories. 

Grab a spoon – Battle Creek has something for everyone.

Want a closer look at Battle Creek?

Watch the Battle Creek episode of "Under the Radar" on YouTube.