MSU Extension Assists with New Economic Beginnings in Bangor

Van Buren County Van Buren County Extension P: 269-657-7745 E-mail: [email protected] Suite A, 801 Hazen Street F: 269-657-6678 Web: www.msue.msu.edu/VanBuren Paw Paw, MI 49079-1077 March 2006 MSU Extension assists with new economic Two local economic development entities beginnings in Bangor increased their efforts and introduced wireless In 1999 the City of Bangor was in dire need of Internet service, investigated starting a business economic development. During the last century the incubator and upgraded the business core through community had been a mill town three times. the purchase and development of condemned First, using the surrounding virgin hardwood forest properties. to smelt iron ore brought in by rail in the 1880s. In Bangor’s business park assets list included rail the 1920s a huge cider mill made use of the service, refitted sewer treatment ponds, ownership burgeoning apple crops. After World War II, die- by the local economic development corporation, casting became the area’s largest industry, employing Core Community status and the renaissance zone. nearly 500 workers at its peak. These assets attracted the attention of the Michigan By the 1980s the cycle had run full circle and Bio Diesel, LLC. Bangor was busted once again. It was designated as a Michigan BioDiesel (MBD) is a partnership of Core Community by the State of Michigan. 56 independent investors who have pooled Bangor leaders applied for an Economic resources to build a 10-million-gallon per year Renaissance Zone to stimulate business growth in biodiesel plant in Bangor. The $7.5 million plant 1996. The application was turned down. In 1999 state will create 20 to 25 new jobs and have the capacity officials again asked for applications and encouraged to produce 28,000 gallons of biodiesel daily. communities to band together and submit joint Roger Betz, MSU Extension district educator, applications. worked with MBD to formulate workable financials With coordination from MSU Extension economic that enabled the company to clear tax hurdles that development educator Mark Thomas, Bangor, the helped get the project off the ground. Village of Bloomingdale, Covert Township and the MBD has applied to the Michigan Strategic City of Hartford sought a county Renaissance Zone. Fund to create a 10-year Agricultural Processing This time it was accepted and the zone went into Renaissance Zone in Bangor. effect in 2001. MBD called “its citizens” Bangor’s greatest With momentum building and with continued asset. The “welcome to our town, we assistance from Mark Thomas, Bangor applied for want you here” attitude went a long way grants to improve the appeal of its business park. to having Bangor on the short list for this They were able to repave the main road and enhance facility. marketing for the City. Contact: Mark Thomas

Michigan State University Extension helps people improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and opportunities. Offices in counties across the state link the research of the land-grant university, MSU, to challenges facing communities. Citizens serving on county Extension councils regularly help select focus areas for programming. MSU Extension is funded jointly by county boards of commissioners, the state through Michigan State University and federally through the US Department of Agriculture. Cost-effective soil fertility management Twenty-eight producers participated in the two- important to farmers part program. All of them learned new information. Ninety-one percent plan to use what they learned to Fertilizer prices have increased significantly over make management, marketing or equipment the past two years reducing the profitability of field decisions for the 2006-growing season. Seventy- crop producers. This trend is projected to continue seven percent of the participants expected this through 2006. Mike Staton, agriculture and natural information to earn or save them money in 2006. resources extension educator in Van Buren County, The information will help the participants earn led a statewide educational effort to address this or save more than $60 per acre. Those who attended critical issue. raise hay on 759 acres and will earn or save Five regional educational programs were held to $45,540. help producers minimize the adverse effects of high A new farmer and horse owner said, “We were fertilizer prices. amazed at the amount of information provided that One of these regional meetings was held in will be extremely useful in getting our new Lawrence on January 18. Forty field crop producers enterprise on its feet”. and agribusiness agronomists participated. Two participants that traveled from Saginaw According to an evaluation conducted following County indicated that the program was well worth the program, 90 percent of the participants learned their time and effort to attend. new information and 84 percent indicated that they Contact: Mike Staton will use the information to make decisions about soil Van Buren County MSU Extension fertility for the 2006 growing season. More than three quarters (77 percent) said the will  Julie Pioch, County Extension Director use the information and plan to implement practices  Mark Longstroth, District Horticulture will make their businesses more profitable in 2006.  Kendra Hughson, Family & Consumer Sciences The average amount of money the participants  Louise Ryan, Technology expect to save/earn per acre is $12.27. Since they  Mark Thomas, Economic Development expect to apply this new knowledge to 9,300 acres,  Beth Clawson, Natural Resource the financial impact of this educational program will  Mike Staton, Agriculture be more than $114,000.  Janice Rajzer, 4-H Youth Development Contact: Mike Staton  Kelly Getman-Dissette, Community Development Producing, feeding and marketing high-  Maria Ramirez, Program Associate I, FNP quality hay  Elizabeth Weiss-Deboer, 4-H Mentor Americorp  Karen Sprang, Support Staff Hay is an important crop in Van Buren County  Jerri Pursley, Support Staff with nearly 11,000 acres in production and more than  Jill Casanto, Support Staff 29,000 tons produced each year. Producers face many obstacles in producing the high-quality hay demanded by the market. Van Buren County MSU Extension planned, Agricultural profitability and sustainability conducted and evaluated an educational program to Computer technology help local hay producers overcome the barriers to Solid waste plan implementation producing and marketing high quality hay. The Home horticulture Land use education program was held in the evening to make it Community and economic development convenient for part-time farmers. Helping youth succeed Building healthy families

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal opportunity institution, Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Thomas G. Coon, Extension Director, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI 48824