The Frankenmuth Economic Development Corporation wants everyone to know their new Frankenmuth Business Park is “Open for Business.”

The EDC held a 35-minute business park sign unveiling at 11am Tuesday, July 1, at the park site.

The land is located north of the city, along the east side of M-83 and south of Roedel Road. For motorists passing by this summer and seeing the sign, the EDC land is currently all sugar beets.

Terry Weiss, general manager at Mike Young Buick-Pontiac-GMC Truck, was the master of ceremonies.

“We’ve gathered here today on what we believe will be an important day in the economic history of Frankenmuth,” Weiss said.

Frankenmuth Mayor Gary Rupprecht followed Weiss to the podium and talked about tax base and diversity. He recalled how a few years ago, business supported about 57 percent of the tax base; today, that number now represents the residential tax base.

“Economic development can take many forms – expansions and re-investment by businesses already located here, new construction and investment by new entrepreneurs,” Rupprecht said. “The business park is a long-time goal of the city . . . it will create jobs and support the city’s general fund.”

EDC Chairman Tony D’Anna showed his enthusiasm for the park’s future throughout his remarks.

“When the EDC came together under the city in 1999, we developed a work plan with a single goal: to create diversified jobs for the residents of Frankenmuth and build a new tax base for the city. The job has two focuses: To work with businesses that are already here for job retention and expansion and  to attract new firms,” D’Anna  said. “The business park can provide an opportunity for both kinds of development. The EDC’s responsibility is to remove obstacles. And, we did.”

There are three pieces to this land puzzle. There are four homes located along M-83, owned by Frankenmuth Mutual Insurance Company. There are 4.3 acres available for commercial/office use. The city is working with FMI.

“It is with pleasure that we give special recognition to Frankenmuth Mutual Insurance, the city’s partner in the development of the business park. We would not be here today without the tremendous push and initiative of EDC board member, Jerry Stanton,” D’Anna pointed out.

The five acres ready for building is zoned I-S PUD or light industrial/office. Another parcel is 10 acres and located immediately east of the five acres. It is called phase 2 and will be ready for future development.

Immediately south and north of the business park is land owned by the Loesel family. A total of 38 acres is to the immediate south and 17 acres are to the immediate north, to Roedel Road.

The EDC identified the ground and worked with the city to purchase it. The EDC also worked with the Frankenmuth Township Planning Commission to get the appropriate zoning.

“We were successful because we were able to put our vision into words, working through the intent of the Master Plan and the commonality of goals for both the city and township,” D’Anna said.

Frankenmuth Downtown Development Authority Director Sheila Stamiris had four business park layout options, designed by Spicer Engineering, on easels to show off the land’s possible uses and configurations.

“The city owns this driveway approach and all the sugar beets planted in the field back to the tree line,” Stamiris indicated. “Our dog-leg shaped parcel wraps around the four houses to the south, which are owned by our development partner, Frankenmuth Mutual.”

The city will work with potential investors to identify incentives that may be useful to them.

“We’ll put the full force of our development partners into action, including the EDC, the DDA, the Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce, Saginaw Future, Inc., and Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), to help a current business expand and reinvest or a new business to build and open,” Stamiris stated.

The EDC also created a web site, http://www.frankenmuth.biz/. The domain was owned by the chamber of commerce but Stamiris and former Chamber President/CEO Jennifer Tebedo worked together to give it to the EDC.

The web site will chronicle ongoing development informa-tion about the business park and other lease or build sites in Frankenmuth, including retail, commercial, office, industrial, recreation and tourism.

For more information, contact Sheila Stamiris at 652-3430, extension 120 or at her email, mailto:sstamiris@frankenmuthcity.com