DOWAGIAC — Thirty-six people work for 16 tenants in The Business Center of Southwestern Michigan. That falls short of the 617,000-square-foot factory’s manufacturing heyday when 170 were employed, but property manager Brian DeLong sees a gem sparkling with potential.
“We have attempted to take this from a single-use facility to multi-use, more like an incubator,”  said Prairie Ronde Realty Co. Vice President Brian DeLong, who manages the property, 415 E. Prairie Ronde, once known as Rudy’s Sundstrnd, Modine and National Copper Products.
“The premise is to provide start-up companies that don’t have a lot of capital to have the opportunity to grow here. The main difference from an incubator model is the certain time frame of 24 or 36 months before you move out. We’re looking at keeping them on board and making them sustainable businesses.”

Room to grow
Besides potential for another dozen start-ups, “We have a 135,000-square-foot room with nine shipping docks and indoor rail dock access ready to go,” DeLong said.
“We’re marketing that for a manufacturer or distributor as an anchor tenant. Kevin (Anderson, city manager) and Cindy (LaGrow, Dowagiac economic development consultant) are a big part of that. The city has really partnered with us and helped in just about any way we’ve asked, bringing us contacts and prospects. We’re thankful they didn’t just bring bulldozers over and lose this opportunity forever.”
“It meets our goals of growing the business base, keeping this very large building and having space available. I only had a handful of buildings available to lease out,” LaGrow said. “From the city’s perspective, we think Brian’s done a tremendous job turning this building into flexible space. He has the business sense to guide people in the right direction.”
The 34.5-acre site contains 20 buildable acres in addition to the plant. The Business Center has rail access and provides some advantages, such as a conference room and kitchen.
Lyons Industries uses The Business Center for warehousing.
Mno Bmadsen is the economic development arm of the Pokagon Band government and Chi Ishobak makes business loans to tribal citizens. Its housing department rents a suite developing into an entrepreneurial center.

New synergy
But the best example of synergy might be Michigan Precision Tool and Engineering, Jerz Machine and Tool and Bill Sheffer’s Unique Cutting and Metal Works which are collaborating on projects.
“A vendor can drop its truck off at one location and have three different processes done to it,” DeLong said. “All of this has been done in 24 months in the worst economy in a long time.
“We’re very optimistic we’ll see more traffic and more opportunities going forward. Next year, I’m proposing quarterly owner meetings to improve communication. A couple told me they expect to double their capacity in the next 24 months.”
Green Farms warehouses hay bales harvested near the airport. Soja Farms warehouses equipment.
Quality Truck Parts buys diesel engines, disassembles them and sells components online. Last week, DeLong met with a man who makes electric guitars.
“Why not marry someone’s desire to create a business and remove some of the barriers in their path?” DeLong said. “There is new life here.”