Northwest Wayne News

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently awarded two grants that will upgrade infrastructure for economic development business projects and support a total of 261 new and existing jobs in Wayne and Washtenaw counties.

The grants will help fund infrastructure improvements required to accommodate more commercial truck traffic at the Pak-Rite facility in Ecorse and at Sartorius BioAnalytical Industries’ new Ann Arbor facility, a June press release from the governor’s office said.

"These grants supporting 261 jobs in Wayne and Washtenaw will help us grow our economy, rebuild our infrastructure, and boost economic opportunity for Michiganders in every community," Whitmer said in the release. "Reliable infrastructure is critical for Michiganders going to work, dropping their kids off at school, and running errands, but it is also critical for small businesses moving products and personnel across Michigan. Today’s investment will ease the flow of commercial truck traffic and help Pak-Rite in Ecorse and Sartorius BioAnalytical Industries in Ann Arbor continue growing and investing in Michigan. I will work with anyone to invest in our infrastructure and advance our economic development so we can continue moving Michigan forward.”

The state Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF) grant finances highway, road and street projects; the release said. These projects are imperative to the flow of people and products, workers getting to their jobs, materials transported to growers and manufacturers, and goods getting into the hands of consumers. 

"The City of Ecorse and the State of Michigan have been great,” Rory M. Renaud, chief financial officer of Pak-Rite Industries, said in the release. “With help from the state and the City of Ecorse, Pak-Rite Industries has been able to develop a plan to better manage the truck traffic in our trailer yard off of Outer Drive. Our customers have expressed growing concerns about trailer capacity and accessibility constraints, which would have resulted in resourcing work to our sister plant in Ohio. This drop in work would have meant the layoff of at least 100 employees. This grant will allow us to increase the flow of trailers and allow for inbound/outbound traffic simultaneously. We will also be able to retain our current workforce and use this as a bid for additional business with our customer. We are grateful and appreciative to the city and state for working with us and allowing us access to this grant to better manage our logistics operations and continue to employ hundreds of employees within our community.” 

The City of Ecorse will improve the safety of accessing the Outer Drive facility by widening the egress at Outer Drive and rebuild Riteway Drive, the release said. The widening played a key role in Pak-Rite's decision to keep full operations located at the Ecorse facility. 

"This vital grant to improve the road around the Research Park is a true outward example of the state’s commitment to attract(ing) dynamic and contributing companies to the local economy,” Pete Mertens, Sartorius Operations network strategy manager, said in the release. “Sartorius feels supported that the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Office of Economic Development sees this grant as a great opportunity for not only our new property but for the Research Park as a whole.”