Norton Shores coffee producer among West Mich. agriculture expansion grant recipients

State agriculture officers have introduced $200,000 in grant funding to assist a Norton Shores coffee producer’s expansion that may create the most important chilly brew manufacturing facility within the United States.

La Colombe Coffee Roasters, a coffee roaster based in 1994 in Philadelphia, Pa., recognized for its ready-to-drink canned lattes, bought a manufacturing plant in Norton Shores in 2016. The firm plans a two-part expansion to create a high-speed bottling line in addition to introduce chilly brewing manufacturing on the facility. 

The chilly brewing part would create the most important chilly brewing producing facility within the U.S., based on Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) officers.

“We are very proud to be producing our iconic cold brew and revolutionary canned lattes in Norton Shores,” La Colombe Chief Operating Officer Matt Sunderland mentioned in an emailed assertion to MiBiz. “It’s in part because of the support from the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development that La Colombe can continue to build out our facilities to meet the growing demand for our cold brew products.”

La Colombe is considered one of 5 West Michigan meals producers receiving a complete of $630,000 in grant funding introduced in the present day by the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development. The funding will assist meals manufacturing expansions in Traverse City, Paw Paw, Lowell and Zeeland, along with Norton Shores.

“When we make investments in local businesses, we’re investing in the future of our agricultural industry in Michigan,” MDARD Director Gary McDowell mentioned in an announcement. “These five businesses will now be able to increase production, provide good-paying jobs for Michiganders and help to ensure that ‘Made in Michigan’ is known and respected around the globe.”

Lowell-based King Milling Co. obtained the most important grant among the 5 firms, touchdown $250,000 to construct a brand new flour mill with elevated capability and rent six new staff. The fifth-generation, family-owned wheat provider was based in 1890 and is present process the most important expansion in firm historical past.

“It is a long term investment that will provide benefits to Michigan’s agriculture and food processing sectors for many years to come,” King Milling President Brian Doyle mentioned in an announcement.

Other grant recipients embody:

• Townline Poultry Farm Inc. in Zeeland, which obtained $75,000 to assist a 13,000-square-foot expansion for brand new high-tech, energy-efficient incubation tools in addition to new packing and transport areas and a loading dock. The expansion is anticipated to create six jobs. The fourth-generation, family-owned firm was based as a cow farm in 1913 by Jacob and Ada Geerlings.
• Wine Chips Inc., which is headquartered close to Los Angeles however will function a manufacturing facility in Paw Paw, obtained $65,000 to develop manufacturing at a vacant Downey Potato Chip facility. Founded in 2017 by tech entrepreneurs Jonathan Strietzel and Jon Kraft, Wine Chips produce gourmand potato chips which might be designed to be paired with wine.
• Traverse City-based Great Lakes Malting Co., which provides numerous malted grains to the brewing and distilling sectors throughout the Midwest, obtained $40,000 to assist an expansion that can double manufacturing capability to fulfill rising demand.