One of the nine companies Gov. Rick Snyder recently announced will expand in Michigan is a mid-Michigan favorite:
Zehnder's of Frankenmuth.
The tourism destination has been in business since 1856 and today includes a hotel, water park, restaurant, bakery and 18-hole golf course. It will be the recipient of a community development block grant as part of the Michigan Loan Participation Program.
Zehnder's will use the grant money, $500,000, as part of a $15 million expansion of the Splash Village Water Park and Hotel, adding 30,000 square feet and 32 additional hotel rooms, which will more than double the current size.
The project will create 69 new full time jobs, and also includes $5 million in loan enhancement funds through the MEDC, and $862,000 from Frankenmuth's downtown development authority.
The other companies granted strategic funding at the governor's announcement are Challenge Manufacturing Company in Walker, Detroit Thermal Systems in Romulus, Hanwha L&C Alabama in Monroe, Lyons Consulting Group in Ann Arbor, Newell Rubbermaid in Kalamazoo. A community revitalization program grant will go to 521 in Spring Lake; another will go to Rylee's Ace Hardware in Grand Rapids. Finally, Martinrea Jonesville was approved for a Michigan Economic Growth Authority tax credit to expand in North Adams.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.