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Fresh back from Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s business development mission to Japan, Battle Creek Unlimited’s Joe Sobieralski returns to Community Matters. He discusses the multimillion dollar reinvestment by DENSO Manufacturing Michigan to modernize its Battle Creek plant – and, he says, why more such investments would be a good thing – even though they are not …
Ford Motor Company’s plans for a lithium iron phosphate battery production facility in Marshall, Michigan seemingly remain on track. On September 15, 2023, Judge William Marietti sided with Ford in a decision over potential rezoning of the site. The case was brought by a citizens’ group, Committee for Marshall-Not the Megasite, a spokesman for which told Community …
First Aired September 2, 2023 In her last Community Matters check-in before the fall 2023 legislative session in Lansing, Rep. Sarah Lightner (R-Springport) of Michigan’s 45th District talks about a number of subjects. Among them: The House independent contractor bill lingering in Lansing, bills associated with juvenile justice and more. She also offers perspective on what the …
First Aired August 19, 2023 Community Matters continues its coverage of the Marshall, Michigan-planned Ford BlueOval Battery Park Michigan plant. This time, Richard Piet is joined by attorney Robby Dube, a member of the legal team for the Committee for Marshall-Not the Megasite. Dube offers an update on a course of events that seemed headed for …
First Aired August 19, 2023 Just ahead of a big welcome-back event for Harper Creek Community Schools staff on August 16, 2023, Superintendent Rob Ridgeway joined Richard Piet on Community Matters. Superintendent Ridgeway talked about priorities for the new school year, growth in the district and what a potential BlueOval plant in Marshall could mean for its Harper …
First Aired August 12, 2023 Ford Motor Company’s intent to build a new battery plant in Marshall, Michigan presents an interesting opportunity: The chance to build a new manufacturing facility from the ground up. On this episode of Community Matters, we ask manufacturing consultant Mike Craig of the west-Michigan-based GKW Business Solutions to help us understand what innovations Ford might …
First Aired August 5, 2023 In an update on the Ford BlueOval Battery Park Michigan project, Jim Durian, CEO of the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance (MAEDA) tells Community Matters the unbuilt plant is already attracting allied industies. Durian said a concrete mixing company, Shafer Redi-Mix, intends to buy a space at The Brooks industrial and research park – a move that …
First Aired August 5, 2023 UPDATE: After this story was published, efforts to move the next hearing to later August 2023 did not eventuate. A hearing was heard on August 9, 2023, as originally scheduled. A final written decision from the judge in the case is expected in late August 2023. Opponents of the Ford BlueOval …
