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February
23, 2004
MiBiz Network
By Rod Kackley
MUSKEGON - Re-Sources Industries has moved out
of a leased facility in Coopersville and into a Muskegon
building it can call its own.
Re-Source Industries - a production machine shop that
specializes in forming, and bending, drilling and tapping,
and small stamping - has acquired a 30,000-square-foot
facility on Getty Street in Muskegon.
Re-Source President Paul Kuyt told MiBiz that the new
facility would accommodate existing operations and provide
space for additional growth.
"The price was right and the city (of Muskegon)
was very willing to work with us," he said. "We
called them as we were first starting to look at making
an offer and asked what they could do to help us. We
asked if they wanted our business to locate there and
they said loud and clear that they did. I have nothing
but positive comments about how the city helped make
this happen."
Grubb & Ellis|Paramount, Comerica Bank, the Muskegon
County Department of Employment and Training, and Muskegon
Area First - the community’s economic development
corporation - also played important roles that helped
secure the deal.
Muskegon Mayor Steve Warmington said the arrangement
works for the city too. "This project is an excellent
example of people and organizations working together
to close a deal that had some challenges. Re-Source
Industries is a great addition to the city of Muskegon
and we are grateful to each of the parties that worked
with us to secure this project."
Muskegon Area First Executive Director Todd Battle told
MiBiz that this should not be seen as a story in which
Muskegon is the winner and Coopersville is the loser.
"This is really good for the region. Re-Source
was outgrowing a facility in Coopersville and they moved
into a neighboring area to continue their growth,"
said Battle.
It wasn’t just the deal that was cut that attracted
Re-Source to the former home of Burgess Norton Manufacturing.
The building that Re-Source moved into the first week
of February is actually part of a larger industrial
complex. Kuyt said it was a perfect fit for Re-Source.
"This really is tailor-made for us. It has all
of the right power and air distribution. Honestly, if
you had given me a clean sheet of paper I don’t
think I could have done a better job designing it from
scratch."
Re-Source Industries currently employs 28 workers. Kuyt
said they could hire up to 12 new employees as a result
of new business and the larger facility.
It is certainly good news that Re-Source has moved into
the old Burgess Norton complex, but that story isn’t
finished. There is still plenty of industrial space
left to either sell or lease - close to 100,000 square
feet of buildings.
Burgess Norton operated both a foundry and a machine
shop. The foundry is the older of the two structures
that make up the complex. It was a working foundry up
until about six months ago. Re-Source bought the building
that was the machine shop.
"Obviously, the older building has a lot more environmental
issues and other problems," said Battle.
Grubb & Ellis|Paramount Commercial Real Estate Advisor
Ty Hallock told MiBiz that Burgess Norton has not made
any firm plans for the rest of the complex. "I
am sure that they will try to push that forward and
make it part of a redevelopment, but at this point they
are going to sit back while they figure out what would
be best for the property."
COPYRIGHT 2004. MIBIZ NETWORK.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
This article appeared in the February 23, 2004 issue
of MiBiz, read by upper management executives in West
and Southwest Michigan. Print subscriptions are free
to qualified individuals who do business in West and
Southwest Michigan. For further information about MiBiz
Network, visit www.mibiz.com.
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