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KENTWOOD, Mich. — The Michigan Strategic Fund has awarded a $40,000 grant to a Kentwood-based snack manufacturer. The company plans to add up to 37 new jobs and invest up to $30 million to expand manufacturing, warehousing and distribution buildings to accommodate “rapidly growing” grocery demand. request.
Snackcraft, a subsidiary of Greece-based Unismac, is expanding its building at 4444 52nd St. SE to 186,000 square feet.
The additional storage space and 16 loading docks included in the expansion are expected to reduce third-party warehousing and logistics costs, according to a Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) memo. The Michigan Strategic Fund is the publicly funded arm of MEDC.
SnackCraft describes itself as a maker of gluten-free and allergen-controlled baked goods and savory snack foods. His SnackCraft, a contract food manufacturer, is contracted out to make snacks by third-party companies, which then sell them under their own name. The company has 70 employees and its products are available throughout the United States. In 2022, we opened our Kentwood facility, which will become our U.S. headquarters.
related: Greek snack company opens U.S. headquarters in Kentwood, plans to hire up to 185 people
“This expansion demonstrates our commitment to this region and provides opportunities for both existing and new customers for future growth,” Snackcraft CEO Joseph Riley said in a statement. “This will allow us to secure Snackcraft’s long-term food manufacturing platform.”
Up to 37 new jobs created by the project are expected to be paid an hourly wage of $35.50 plus benefits, according to the MEDC memo. The anticipated position was not detailed in documents provided by MEDC, and Mr. Riley was not available for an interview on Thursday, February 29th.
MEDC said a $400,000 state grant is needed to ensure Snackcraft expands in Kentwood rather than in other parts of the U.S. MEDC said Sullivan County, New York, was considered as an expansion location.
A timeline for the expansion was not included in documents from MEDC or The Right Place, a Grand Rapids-based regional economic development group that supported the project. However, Brent Case, vice president of business attraction for The Right Place, said through a spokesperson that construction has already been completed.
In addition to the state grant, Snackcraft also received a 50 percent property tax abatement from the city of Kentwood to help cover expansion costs, according to a new release from The Right Place.
“We contacted Snackcraft in early 2022 as they were looking to establish their first North American operation here in Kentwood,” Case said. “It has been an incredible opportunity to be a part of their journey from the early stages to supporting their expansion just one year later. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for them.”
Snackcraft previously received a $1 million grant from MSF to establish its headquarters in Kentwood in 2022. To date, the company has created 70 of the 185 jobs it announced it would create as part of the grant.
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