Mount Clemens sets Oct. 19 public hearing for College Park Industries industrial district

The Mount Clemens City Commission voted by roll call to set a public hearing for Oct. 19 to consider establishing an industrial development district at 350 Church Street under Public Act 198 of 1974, a first step that would allow College Park Industries to pursue an Industrial Facilities Tax (IFT) certificate.

Camille Silva, a Macomb County economic developer, told the commission the company intends to expand operations into Mount Clemens by purchasing the multi-unit building at 350 Church Street. "The company will end up investing approximately 1,000,000 dollars in total into the building for upgrades to develop a state of the art manufacturing, research and design center," Silva said, describing plans for real and personal property investment and a center of excellence.

The cover letter filed with the city stated College Park Industries intends to invest approximately $500,000 in real and personal property and to create 11 to 15 new jobs over the next two years; Silva and the company representative described that figure as investment tied to site improvements and operation expansion. The commission asked staff to provide full financial analytics at a later certificate hearing.

A company representative (introduced to the meeting as Joe Wicker from College Park Industries) described the firm's work manufacturing prosthetic feet and component parts and said the business bought the 350 Church Street building on Sept. 4 and recently completed an acquisition that expands its product line. The representative said the project would bring manufacturing, engineering and a CPO-certified prosthetics area to the site.

Silva said the abatement under consideration would apply only to increased taxable value from the new investment and that "the city will reap 50% of the value of the new taxes to the community," noting the abatement is structured as a 50 percent reduction on the new taxable value only and does not reduce existing taxes on the property. Commissioners asked about the timeline; Silva said the company and county were working to meet state tax commission timelines and that a certificate hearing would include mapping, investment details and financial analysis.

The commission motion to schedule the public hearing passed on a roll-call vote with affirmative responses recorded at the meeting.

The hearing will allow taxing jurisdictions and members of the public to comment prior to any decision on an IFT certificate; notices will also be mailed to taxing jurisdictions and published in the Macomb Daily as required by statute.