1st Quarter Saginaw County Business
Attractions
June 10, 2009
In the 1st quarter of 2009, Saginaw Future Inc. (SFI)
assisted seven companies that invested nearly $6.6 million, creating 68 jobs
and retaining five jobs.
Expansions
AKT Peerless Environmental Services LLC has acquired Chicago-based
energy auditor, Informed Energy Decisions, enabling the company to expand
its coverage into Illinois, where a lucrative market exists for Brownfield
redevelopment. Besides energy audits, Informed Energy specializes in
property cost analysis, retrofits recommendations, Energy Star
certification, advice on energy-based tax incentives, green design
consultation, rehab and construction. Opportunities in the market began the
push for a number of AKT staff to become Leadership in Energy &
Environmental Design (LEED) accredited professionals in order to provide
energy consulting services for clients. AKT will hire at least six new
workers resulting from the merger.
CIGNYS-Bridgeport Facility expanded once again and purchased new milling
centers and EDM machines. Since 2005, the company has invested more than
$1.4 million in its Bridgeport location creating nine jobs. CIGNYS-Bridgeport
specializes in precision machining, prototypes, and test and assembly
fixturing.
CIGNYS-Shields Facility also purchased new equipment, investing $543,115
in its Shields location. The company added new vertical machining centers
and water-jet systems, and has expanded in each of the last two years.
CIGNYS has been working with the Saginaw Future Procurement Technical
Assistance Center (PTAC) seeking new government contracts and received
investment incentive assistance from SFI.
Merrill Tool & Machine, Inc. part of the Merrill Technologies Group,
continues to grow at its Village of Merrill location. The company purchased
nearly $4.5 million in new equipment, primarily horizontal machining centers
due to increased demand in the aerospace, wind and solar markets. Merrill
Tool has expanded several times over the past five years and anticipates
hiring 10 new employees. SFI assisted the company with investment incentives
and the Saginaw Future PTAC is assisting the company with securing
additional federal defense contracts.
Merrill Aviation, also part of the Merrill
Technologies Group, is located in Jonesfield Township at the site of the
original Merrill Tool & Machine, Inc. facility. The company made real
property improvements needed to reopen the facility and bring it up to grade
necessary to do aviation work. Merrill Aviation received necessary
certifications and is currently securing new business in the area of rework
of landing gears. Company officials see huge growth potential and are also
looking at the possibility of doing specialized painting in the aviation
industry.
Star of the West Milling provides drying, processing
and storing of grains. The company is headquartered in the City Frankenmuth
and has storage facilities throughout Saginaw County. The company is
expanding its Frankenmuth Township facilities by 312,000 bushels of storage
after adding 643,000 bushels of storage and a grain dryer last year. The
project’s total investment is expected to be $705,000 with five jobs
retained at the location.
Attraction
Saginaw Public Market - Annex Banquet & Event Center is
located in Spaulding Township and offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to
start businesses by showcasing products and services at a reasonable rental
rate. Currently 22 businesses representing 37 positions lease space on a
weekly basis. The facility has undergone an extensive facelift with over
$400,000 invested in the purchase and renovation of the facility. Besides a
local lender, the company received financial assistance through the East
Central Michigan Planning and Development Region loan fund. SFI directed the
company to the funding source and has a board seat on the loan committee.
