2005 ANNOUNCEMENT OF RENAISSANCE ZONE PARK
DEQ & COUNTY AGREE
DEQ PERMITS FOR ROLAND MACHINERY
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| Roy Ness Contracting is continuing work on this new Renaissance Zone Business |
Despite the many roadblocks throughout the DEQ’s process of rules and regulations, the County held steadfast in its persistence to allow Roland Machinery the opportunity to begin construction of their new facility within the Renaissance Zone.
The Delta County Airport’s Renaissance Zone (RZ) was designated by the State of Michigan in 2002. The infrastructure for approximately 130 acres was constructed and completed this summer and is ready for business. Roland Machinery has been in negotiations with Delta County and the Airport since May. Throughout the entire time, Roland has stayed committed to their plan of staying in Delta County even when it looked like they were not going to be allowed to build in the RZ. “We have been very dedicated to keeping our operations here in Escanaba”, stated Matt Hanson, Operations Manager. “Our work force lives here, we have a strong customer base and presence in the Upper Peninsula and the company was originally founded in Bark River in 1906. Anything we could do to help the process move forward was in our best interest”.
The RZ committee started the application process of mitigating 2 acres of wetland on the Roland site last winter. With the DEQ shutdown in the winter months for permitting, the process got rolling in the Spring of this year. Many individuals, with their time and talent, aided in getting the permit the County has just received. Rory Mattson, Delta Conservation District, the Governor’s Office, including Matt Johnson and all of the local State and Federal legislative representatives; Dale McNamee, Representative Casperson’s aide, and Representative Casperson, himself, were instrumental in keeping the permit application in the forefront. Ann Jousma, Judy Schwalbach, Mayor of Escanaba, Darrel Bengry, County Board of Commissioners, Dennis Ness, Roy Ness Contracting, Dennis Bittner, Bittner Engineering and many others contributed many hours to help secure the permit before the building season of 2005 was over.
The Delta County Board of Commissioners and the Delta County Airport Board remain committed in securing other businesses within the Renaissance Zone. Given the economic benefits of being virtually tax-free, its prime location to all transportation connections and competitive lease pricing, the Airport Industrial Park looks forward to serving the community’s business endeavors.
