Deal in Place to Save Jobs

Blackman Township Hall rang with applause Thursday after the township board approved an agreement in concept to keep Production Engineering here.

Company President Jim Jansen stood and thanked the board on behalf of his employees, who filled the hall. "These are the people that make things happen," Jansen said, referring to the employees.

Production Engineering has outgrown its plant at 2330 Brooklyn Road in Summit Township and has been considering moving to northern Indiana.

But if the township board and City Council give further approval in the form of a revenue-sharing agreement and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. approves a tax package, Production Engineering will move to Blackman Township instead, company officials have said.

Details of the package emerged during Thursday's one-hour meeting.

Production Engineering would buy 15 acres on County Farm Road near TAC Manufacturing from the Blackman Township Local Development Finance Authority for $100,000.

The company would invest $12.75 million in a new plant and equipment. It would keep its 130 employees, add 25 the first year and 15 a year thereafter.

And with the help of State Sen. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, state law could be changed so the company would get a tax credit for all of the jobs, not just the new ones, saving it $2.3 million in local taxes and $4.9 million in state taxes.

Schauer said he got involved because competition is fierce for jobs and he is confident the law will be changed soon. "This is manufacturing. These are the jobs we're losing by the tens of thousands," Schauer said.

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