The Branch County Economic Growth Alliance (BCEGA) was established in 1989 as a private non-profit 501(c)3 corporation dedicated to promoting economic development throughout Branch County. We utilize various resources and tools to assist businesses in their expansion and attraction needs, and work with area businesses to help keep them stable and strong employers for the region’s workforce.
The services the BCEGA provides can assist any corporate level, from free business planning assistance for the entrepreneur to site location and incentive information for the large corporation considering expansion. While the BCEGA focuses primarily on industrial development, its partnership with the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) helps the BCEGA provide services to retailers and other commercial businesses.
MISSION top
The Branch County Economic Growth Alliance (BCEGA) mission is to create, retain and expand jobs in Branch County by attracting new industries to the county, assisting local industries in expansion efforts, and creating an environment where businesses and industry can succeed.
To fulfill this mission, the BCEGA focuses on three primary activities: Retention and Expansion, Workforce Training, and Enhancing Branch County Quality of Life.
Retention & Expansion
- Marketing Branch County’s five industrial parks located in Bronson, Coldwater, Quincy and Union City.
- The BCEGA community team will fight to keep local businesses local, and can work with a growing company to package services and incentives to make it that much easier and attractive to locate and grow in Branch County.
Workforce TrainingWork with employers and educators to identify and address training needs through seminars, workshops, customized training and other learning opportunities to ensure the development of our current and future workforce.
Enhance Quality of Life
BCEGA works with:
- Community partners to address quality affordable housing.
- County educators to find ways to help the business and education communities work more closely together for the development of the current and future workforce.
- Local municipalities on infrastructure improvements to support the economic growth of the county.
- Other community partners on recreational and cultural activities.
HISTORY top
The Branch County Economic Growth Alliance (BCEGA) began in 1989 as a result of a study conducted by the Coldwater/Branch County Chamber of Commerce in late 1988 and early 1989, which showed strong support for a comprehensive economic development program within Branch County. The BCEGA was formed based on support for economic development objectives and strong financial support from the business community.
The first several years of the development of the BCEGA was focused on developing a strategic plan based on the issues identified in the Chamber’s study and establishing itself as an important resource for economic growth within the community. A primary focus was working with existing companies on retention and expansion issues, and strengthening the county’s workforce. The county's strategic location for highway accessibility, and located halfway between Chicago and Detroit, was an easy feature to sell for later attraction efforts.
In the mid-1990s preparation began for attracting new industries from other parts of our state, country, and the world. These efforts began paying off later in the decade. A Michigan company, Crocker Limited, announced in August 1995 that it planned to expand into Branch County and is now a strong county employer. In February 1996 an Indiana company, Big Boy (a division of MultiTech Industries) began manufacturing trailer hitches here. On February 20, 1996, a Honda supplier, Asama Giken of Japan, announced that it would open its first United States facility in Coldwater. The company makes exhaust manifolds, rear brake discs and drums, brake disc rotors, steering knuckles, and differential gear cases. Asama brought in one of its suppliers, Gokoh Sangyo Company, to produce molded shell cores for ACM’s ferrous casting operations.
On March 1, 1996, the fifth new company held a press conference to reveal its decision to start a new plant in Coldwater. The world’s largest aluminum recycler, IMCO Recycling, constructed a building. The plant supplies recycled metal in molten form to customers in the Midwest and Canada. IMCO opened in February 1997.
In October 1996, Fairway Products Inc., through Consumers Renaissance Development Corporation (a brownfield redevelopment company), received a grant from the Michigan Jobs Commission for expansion of the manufacturing company. Fairway Products located on a site that was formerly home to United Technologies Automotive in the Village of Quincy. Fairway Products recently consolidated into its Hillsdale facility, but their facility was almost immediately acquired by Hutchison FTS to address a need for more space due to growing business.
In July 1997, Wal-Mart committed to building a distribution center in Coldwater, and is now the county’s largest private employer. December 2001 Speedrack Products announced that it would be purchasing the old Acorn building located in Quincy with operations starting in March 2003. Starr Industries moved its operation into the Quincy market in January 2003. In June 2003 Yellow Transportation located one of its facilities to Coldwater.
SERVICES top
BCEGA is ready to go to work for you or your business to make every step of the way from planning to completion effortless. We pride ourselves on utilizing both local and state tools to assist you and your business as you relocate and grow in the community.
- Site Location:
The BCEGA will help you find your ideal site, whether it is land for a new building or finding an existing building. - Employee Training:
We work with area educators and training providers, like Michigan Works and Michigan HRDI , the Branch Area Careers Center and Kellogg Community College for their customized training assistance. - Tax Incentives:
We will work with your business to tailor an incentive package to meet your specific needs such as Industrial tax abatements, Brownfield incentives, Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) tax credits, and many others.
More Tax Incentives - Financial Incentives:
Your business may qualify for certain financial incentive packages such as Small Business Administration loan programs through your area lender, the MEDC State Business Loan Fund, Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (IDRB), the Coldwater Loan Fund and many others.
For more information on financial assistance please click on the following links:
MDEC Financing
SBA Financing
City of Coldwater
BOARD OF DIRECTORS top
| Paul Beckhusen President Coldwater Board of Public Utilities |
Don Shemel Branch County Commissioner |
| Not Filled Village of Union City |
Eric Zuzga Village of Quincy |
| William Stewart Secretary/Treasurer City of Coldwater |
Dave O’Rourke City of Bronson |
| Linden Cox Interim Executive Director | Bud Norman County of Branch |
