A Burr Oak, Mich., maker of reusable totes, thermoformed packaging and pallets is consolidating two facilities into one location in a $3 million project expected to create 20 jobs, the state of Michigan said.
Carter Associates Inc. currently operates out of two locations in Burr Oak and has a total of 18 employees. The company will renovate and retool 35,000 square feet of space to create new operations, according to Michigan Economic Development Corp, a state agency that promotes business.
Carter is receiving a $100,000 grant from the Michigan Business Development Program to stay in the state after considering locations in Indiana and Wisconsin.
"The project will bring immediate advanced manufacturing jobs to the region with a large and expanding company that manufactures revolutionary green products and will solidify the company's presence and future business in the state," the development corporation said in a statement.
Consolidation in Burr Oak involves a main plant currently handling all plastic corrugated fabrication operations and a second plant with a research and development laboratory as well as warehousing, lamination and assembly operations.
The company also has a third location in nearby Sturgis, Mich., that includes vacuum forming, warehouse and assembly functions.
"This project further diversifies Southwest Michigan's dynamic supply chain and enables Carter Associates to enhance production and continue to scale right here in our community," Southwest Michigan First CEO Jonas Peterson said in a statement.