The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is awarding a state transportation economic development grant that will help create 18 jobs and retain 24 current jobs in Jackson County. The Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF) Category A grant totaling $269,471 will leverage $2,500,000 in private investment, at a public/private investment ratio of more than 9-to-1.
Lomar Machine and Tool Co., which designs and manufactures standard and custom machines for aerospace, automotive, agriculture, medical and military markets, is expanding its operation in Hanover Township. The company has outgrown its current facilities at the intersection of Coats and Moscow roads, and plans to expand operations further east along Coats Road. The expansion will result in a private investment of $2,500,000, as well as the creation of 18 new jobs by 2018 and the retention of 24 existing jobs. The company also considered sites in Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas and Mexico.
An impediment to Lomar’s expansion in Hanover Township is the condition of Coats Road. Currently, Coats Road is a weight-restricted, predominantly gravel road that lacks appropriate drainage. This grant awarded to the Jackson County Department of Transportation (JCDOT) will allow the department to widen and reconstruct Coats Road to bring it up to all-season status. The total cost of the project is $359,294, including $269,471 in TEDF funds, $69,823 from JCDOT, and $20,000 from Lomar Machine and Tool Co.
“Hanover Township is very pleased that MDOT has granted funds to upgrade Coats Road to become an all-season road for semi traffic going to Lomar Machine and Tool,” said John H. Tallis, Hanover Township supervisor. “This upgrade will make it safer for traffic at the Moscow Road/Coats Road intersection. Lomar has had steady growth for the last five years and semi traffic has more than tripled in that time.”
“It has been Lomar’s pleasure to work closely with MDOT, JCDOT, the Michigan Economic Development Corp., and the Enterprise Group of Jackson to plan improvements for Coats Road, which will mutually benefit our company, our community and our neighbors,” said Ronald Geisman, Lomar Machine and Tool Co. president. “The recent approval to modify portions of Coats Road to Class A, non-restricted road status will allow for increased safety and opportunities to remain competitive through growth and expansion, as well as further improving the local economy by keeping Lomar operations and corresponding jobs in the area.”