Maeda Applauds State Incentives For Ford Project That Will Create 1700 Local Jobs

The Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance (MAEDA) is applauding an incentive package approved Tuesday by the Michigan Strategic Fund Board (MSF) to keep Ford’s BlueOval Battery Park Michigan on track to create 1,700 local jobs.

Construction of the facility is in full swing with hundreds of workers in and around the Marshall Area Jobs, Opportunity and Recreation (MAJOR) Campus, providing an incredible economic boost to the community. Hundreds of construction workers are visiting area businesses and dining at local restaurants.

“It’s exciting to see hundreds of workers on the MAJOR Campus that will continue to ramp up to almost a thousand by the end of the year. In the short term this means more people visiting our shops and spending money at our small businesses and in the long term it means more jobs, personal wealth and revenues for our community,” said James Durian, CEO of MAEDA. “We are watching with excitement as the steel goes up on this innovative facility that will create new career pathways for young people in the Marshall area.”

BlueOval Battery Park Michigan is expected to begin producing batteries for electric vehicles in 2026. It is on 500 acres of the MAJOR Campus, which has 2,000 acres for future businesses. The development has sparked interest in new housing and new projects, including a new hotel in downtown Marshall, Durian said.

The project is also benefiting other Michigan businesses, with Battle Creek-based Hoffman Brothers and Lansing-based Granger Construction providing water and wastewater infrastructure improvements. That effort ensures the availability of safe and clean water, resulting in reliable water and wastewater service to customers. Infrastructure improvements, particularly along the Michigan Avenue corridor in Marshall, will help draw new businesses to the region. Hundreds of workers are expected to be on the construction site by the end of the year, Durian said.

“With projects like the one in Marshall, our small business is able to put people to work building a long-lasting infrastructure that will benefit our families, friends and neighbors long into the future,” said Dan Eriksson, CEO of Hoffman Brothers. “The MAJOR Campus will attract additional investments for our region, which means higher property values, funding for police, fire, schools and roads.”

The MAJOR Campus includes the 245-acre conservation easement at the southern edge of the site along the Kalamazoo River, which Ford has committed to protecting with resources from its Ford Fund. It also covers nearly 23 acres of the Bear Creek property, which includes a historic barn, three houses and several other historic structures. MAEDA is dedicated to preserving the Bear Creek properties and repurposing those structures as a museum, as well as a nature center and trail.

Ford has been active in the community, attending local events, sponsoring activities and already contributing nearly $450,000 to a variety of beloved facilities and attractions in Calhoun County, with more to come. Donations have benefited the Brooks Memorial Fountain in Marshall, the Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek and the historic Bohm Theater in Albion.

“We continue to hear from members of our community who are excited about the new opportunities coming here because of Ford’s investment,” said Marshall mayor Jim Schwartz. “After decades of job loss, we’ve got a bright future here that will mean job opportunities for young people, allowing them to create a life right here close to home.”