Barry County, Michigan
The Barry County, Michigan BDO Zone for Woody Biomass is rated ‘A’.
Rating Issue Date: June 4, 2024.
‘A’ ratings denote high prospective viability of Feedstock Supply and Infrastructure and low expectations of default risk in the Zone. Capacity to support new biobased plant operations is considered strong.
Barry County, MI, BDO Zone Overview
Feedstock quantities are expressed in bone dry tons per year (bdt/yr), while feedstock costs are expressed in United States dollars (USD). Maximum transport distance is based on a 75-mile driving distance from the center point (Hastings, MI).
BDO Zone Assets
- Over 320,000 bdt of low-risk biomass available within the BDO Zone.
- Well-developed timber and forest products industry. Many are generational operations providing stability to wood supply in the area.
- Rural character of Barry County is a positive attribute for new industries to attract workers.
- Pro-business attitude exists within local County to attract new bioeconomy operations.
BDO Zone Liabilities
- Scale-up of forestry operations to support new industries could be hampered by truck driver shortages and specific industry insurance requirements focused on driver tenure and commercial equipment.
- Housing availability may be a concern if a large percentage of workers are sourced from outside the BDO Zone. Housing units (rent/purchase) are limited in the area.
- Rail service is 12 miles from Hastings, MI.
Infrastructure
- Location: 210 Industrial Park Drive, Hastings, Barry County, Michigan
- Site Size: 9.0 acres available, key focus area roughly 6 acres (Zoning: D2-Industrial; flat topography; pricing open). The site is a greenfield parcel owned by the City of Hastings, irregularly shaped, with no identified wetlands/streams, floodplains, or easements. Based on the existing zoning, the site would not require rezoning for bio-industry.
- Infrastructure:
- Electric: Consumers Energy (public utility). Utility extends to site; nearest substation less than 1 mile; capability 10–50 MW.
- Natural Gas: Consumers Energy (public utility). 12-inch main at 150 psi; capability 2-inch at 60 psi at the site.
- Water: City of Hastings (municipal). 12-inch main 1 mile away; peak capacity 4 MGD; not currently available at the site.
- Wastewater: City of Hastings (municipal). 8-inch main 0.25 miles away; capability 2 MGD.
- Telecommunications: HughesNet (private). Satellite and fiber; 5G+ platforms.
- Transportation Access:
- Nearest highway: Highway 37, less than 1 mile.
- Nearest interstate: I-96, 21 miles.
- Rail served: CSX, 12 miles. Not rail accessible at the site.
- Nearest airport: Grand Rapids, MI. No air infrastructure in place at the site.
- Site Contacts:
- Jennifer Heinzman, Barry County Economic Development, Jennifer@mibarry.com
- Property mostly consists of wooded acreage with over 600 feet of road frontage.
- Completed utilities profile and assessment for electric and natural gas.
- Located within the growing industrial district of the City of Hastings.
- Situated in an opportunity zone and designated foreign trade zone.
- Potential for grant dollars and tax incentives for capital investment.
- Local brownfield tools available in the City and Barry County.
- Located along M-37, just north of Hastings, with 647 feet of road frontage and approximately 9,976 cars passing daily.
- Situated in the Green Zone, over 6 acres of mixed-use property with nearly 5,000 square feet for retail, office, or commercial use.
- Includes potential for expansion with an adjacent vacant lot, a spacious ancillary building for storage, and an out lot for additional parking.
- Features single phase 200 Amp power and a fuel station installed in 2017.
- Area is poised for growth with numerous nearby commercial and service businesses.
- Located in the City of Hastings.
- Under-utilized, fully-serviced, development-ready sites and parcels.
- Supports business, technology, research, or industrial businesses.
- Located in an Opportunity Zone and Foreign Trade Zone #43.
Local Grants and Incentives
Barry County Brownfield Redevelopment AuthorityThe County authority that identifies and treats environmentally distressed property to promote revitalization, offering Brownfield Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and Brownfield Assessment Grants. TIF lets taxing jurisdictions continue to receive taxes at the current level while the incremental increase in tax revenue from the redevelopment is captured to reimburse eligible project costs.
City of Hastings Brownfield Redevelopment AuthorityThe City authority reviews proposals for the redevelopment of eligible property within Hastings and determines what financial incentives are needed to assist it, preparing a project-specific Brownfield Plan that sets out the eligible property, the eligible activities, and the TIF approach to be taken.
Brownfield Tax Increment Financing (State of Michigan)The statewide Act 381 program behind both local authorities. It reimburses eligible activities — environmental assessment, due care and remediation, demolition, lead and asbestos abatement, and site preparation — out of the incremental property taxes a redevelopment generates.
MEDC Incentive ProgramsThe Michigan Economic Development Corporation offers performance-based incentives for business expansion and relocation, including the Michigan Business Development Program (grants, loans and other assistance for projects that create jobs or investment) and the Strategic Site Readiness Program (funding to make strategic industrial sites investment-ready).
Going PRO Talent FundA Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity grant that helps employers train, develop and retain current and newly hired employees, awarded through the local Michigan Works! agency. It is aimed at improving operational efficiency, productivity and employee retention through skills development.
Foreign-Trade Zone #43Hastings sites sit within Foreign-Trade Zone #43, granted to the City of Battle Creek and administered by Battle Creek Unlimited. Foreign and domestic merchandise may be admitted for storage, assembly, manufacture, production and processing without formal customs entry procedures, customs duties, or federal excise taxes.
Opportunity Zone (City of Hastings)The rated Hastings sites fall inside a federal Opportunity Zone, where investors who roll capital gains into a Qualified Opportunity Fund can defer and reduce tax on those gains and pay no tax on appreciation of the Opportunity Zone investment when it is held long enough.
Barry County Chamber & Economic Development AllianceThe local first stop for incentives. BCCEDA assists with site selection, grant applications, utility connections, incentives, land bank inquiries, marketing and talent attraction, and publishes the annual Barry County Developers Guide covering the County’s Impact Investment Program and other local tools.
