December 22, 2003
The Muskegon Chronicle
By Heather VanDyke

Port City Racing Enterprises in Fruitport Township, with the help of state and township government, will expand its facility and create a dozen more jobs.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation recently awarded Fruitport Township a $105,000 community development block grant to help finance the cost to connect the facility to city water with a new water main.

The township will also contribute $59,500 out of its water fund for the project, according to township officials.

Plans for the $800,000 expansion include construction of a 24,000-square-foot manufacturing facility to be built behind the company's existing two facilities.

Port City Racing, at 3021 S. Mill Iron, has operated in the West Michigan area since 1977. It currently has 20 employees, but plans to hire 12 more because the company is growing, officials said.

Scott Keyser, general manager, said the new jobs will include welding positions and mill operators.

"We have been on a fast-paced growing scale and we're just flat out of room," Keyser said. "In order for us to keep growing, we were going to have to expand our facilities."

Keyser said the new expansion would have had to be done elsewhere if the township didn't "make the grant happen."

"We needed this other building to maintain our growth here," he said.

The company manufactures hundreds of different automobile parts, including adjustable gas pedals, gaskets, lug nuts, brake lines and engine parts, according to its Web site.

Keyser said the business manufactures high-performance racing parts and has a "dealer network" where the business sells to distributors all over the world.

Connie Smith, township supervisor, said the water main expansion will benefit both the township and company.
The 12-inch water main will be installed down Mill Iron from Heights Ravenna Road to the northern boundary of the company, Smith said.

"Any time you have an extension of a water main you have a benefit for the township. We are also keeping a business in the county," Smith said.

"This is just a win-win for everyone."

Smith said the grant also helped the township and the company avoid potential well problems.

"After review of the site plan by the fire department, it became apparent that a very expensive well fire-suppression system would be needed. Instead of going that route we chose to apply for the grant to get them hooked to city water," she said.

© 2003 Muskegon Chronicle. Used with permission