There is good news coming from the Cass County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) according to director Cindy LaGrow.

In just two short years, the EDC has aided in strengthening the business climate in Cass County.

At last month’s Cass County Board of Commission meeting, LaGrow was asked what they had accomplished.

“We really wanted to let people know what we have accomplished,” she said. “This year we have helped create 125 local jobs for people who live in Michigan and that is not just located in one area of the county, but all over.”

Places like Dowagiac, where Premier Tool and Die Cast Corp. expanded into the former Contech facility on M-51 North. Also expanding are Creative Foam and Ameriwood.

An O’Reilly Auto Parts store will be built soon on M-51 South of Dowagiac near the Honor Credit Union.

In Cassopolis, Postle Aluminum is undergoing its second expansion in as many years, while there is the possibility of a grocery store moving into Edwardsburg, where is has been without one since Harding’s Friendly Market closed.

“We have been the top site for four additional businesses,” LaGrow said. “Three of those business are existing businesses in Cass County that will be expanding and then one of those businesses is a U.S. business that has no presence in Michigan. So it is kind of exciting when Cass County ranks at the top of that list.

“Part of the reason for that is logistics. They want to be closer to their customer base and they want to be closer to their supplier base. So that is a win for us. We have also submitted 20 proposals to site consultants who are looking for sites for companies outside of Michigan.”

LaGrow added that people want to work, live and play in the same area. That creates a climate in Cass County that is perfect for a prospective company.

“The economic climate in the county is so much better than it was two years ago when I first started,” she said. “Part of that is because now when people call the county they actually have someone they can speak to. They have good information. The County Administrator Roger Frazier is pro economic development. He is a progressive person and I really think that is going to help the county out a lot.”

While the fact that approximately 65 percent of Cass County’s workforce is going outside of the county for employment, LaGrow sees that as a positive.

“I think that is an opportunity for us when a company does want to expand,” she said. “One of the first questions they ask is ‘are you sure I am going to be able to find the employs I need?’ My response is always ‘of course’ because we have so many people working outside the county.”

Another reason for the continued growth in the county is that people are starting to understand that the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and its economic development arm Mno-Bmadsen are going to be a driving force for years to come, beyond just the Four Winds Casino, in LaGrow’s opinion.

“They are wanting to create a sustainable life for their citizens and they are divesting and looking at buying new businesses and starting new businesses outside of the casino realm,” she said. “That is pretty huge. We at the Economic Development Corporation want to be a partner with them as much as we can because people need jobs. People who work outside of this county do not want to travel 30 or 40 minutes for their job. In effect it is a waste of them for them when we have good quality jobs right here in Cass County.”

Even with the success that the EDC has already accomplished, there is still plenty left to do.

For more information on the EDC, contact LaGrow at (269) 757-4433.