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By Lisa Mackinder | MiBiz
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ALBION — To help maintain a vibrant business environment, economic developers must be proactive in their communities.

In Albion, economic development efforts range from revitalizing brownfields and empowering high school students with entrepreneurial skills, to engaging in regional partnerships and retaining business.

Peggy Sindt, president of Albion Economic Development Corporation (EDC), understands the value of rejuvenating blighted buildings to maintain and gain economic wellness.

“A vibrant community is always a step ahead in attracting business,” Sindt told MiBiz.

On June 6, 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it awarded the City of Albion Redevelopment Authority a three-year grant of $200,000 to conduct hazardous substances assessments on a variety of sites within the city limits. The award was one of only seven to be made in Michigan, and it was the city’s second such grant since 2009. Sindt said she thought the city’s track record in implementing the first grant could have contributed to its success again this year.

The EDC, which administers the grant, intended to use the first award on large parcels. When it recognized many purchase decisions hinge on assessments, the EDC used the award on small parcels instead. She explained that a buyer might walk away from a property because of the expense of an assessment. Grant money comes into play when a site is being redeveloped or under consideration for development and has a potential for contamination. So far the initial award has put eight different properties back to work and resulted in businesses creating 25 jobs.

The EDC has no concrete plans to apply for another grant, but it could if the current grant is exhausted before all the assessments are complete or if a buyer were interested in a large parcel. In that instance, Sindt said the city might apply for a specific grant to assess that particular property.

The former Harvard Industries site, which housed an old foundry in the city, represents such a property. Given that a rail spur runs through the property, Sindt said she thinks the site is well suited for manufacturing or logistics needs, but the cost of an assessment on it might be steep. Sindt has posed the question of cost to environmental consultants.

“They said if we could get a $200,000 grant that we could use all that money,” said Sindt. “It’s conceivable that we’d need more.”

Besides revitalizing brownfields, Albion also has other economic development efforts underway. An entrepreneurial program will be offered to Albion High School students through the Generation E Institute (GenEI). GenEI is a Battle Creek-based nonprofit organization providing youth entrepreneurial education programs and consulting services (see story on page 9).

The program will detail all the steps to starting a business, including start-up costs. The program offers students a perspective on what it takes to establish a business. She said as the program was an opportunity to develop potential entrepreneurs that might stay in the community and start their own businesses.

With the state encouraging collaboration, Albion has become part of a six-county regional economic development partnership. Sindt said this partnership offers real benefits, including collaboration on projects and sharing of leads on potential business prospects. Prior to this, Albion had already partnered with Battle Creek and Marshall, providing leads on opportunities to one another. She said she feels the partnership expands this kind of collaboration. Working together is beneficial because, as Sindt noted, businesses don’t see lines in the sand.

“Artificial boundaries around counties don’t mean a thing to businesses,” she said.

In May 2011, Iowa-based Van Diest Supply Company announced it would be coming to Albion. The company, dedicated to the crop protection industry, provides services such as product development, process development, formulation, liquid bulk storage and distribution. Van Diest will use the Albion location for distribution, with a facility opening by the end of the year.

Business retention remains the focus for the EDC. The organization visits all of the community’s manufacturing facilities annually, updating executives about tax abatement opportunities and state programs to improve safety and reduce workers compensation costs.

Albion’s location and real estate inventory are its biggest strengths, Sindt said. The city has a lot of land available – including one 250-acre parcel – that’s located right off of I-94, one of the busiest trade routes in the country.

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• albion
• economic development corporation
• peggy sindt