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Kentwood approves tax break for Proper Beverage’s planned 300,000-sq.-ft. canning plant
Summary
The Kentwood City Commission on June 17 approved a tax-exemption resolution for Uncommon Canning LLC, doing business as Proper Beverage Company, to occupy roughly 300,000 square feet in Kentwood and expand hiring and production.
Kentwood — The Kentwood City Commission on June 17 approved a resolution authorizing an industrial facilities exemption certificate for Uncommon Canning LLC, which operates as Proper Beverage Company, clearing the path for the company to occupy about 300,000 square feet of a 600,000-square-foot building at 4175 60th Street and expand operations in Kentwood.
The exemption — approved by roll call vote with Commissioners Moore, Morgan, Moseley, Arts, Coughlin and Mayor Kepley all voting yes — covers the real-property portion of the firm’s investment. City staff told commissioners the company’s real property investment for its portion totals about $36,900,000; the company said it will also bring about $23,000,000 in equipment (not part of the real-property exemption). City staff reported the company currently employs about 50 people in Hudsonville and told the commission the applicant projects an “additional 208 employees” within two years.
Why it matters: the exemption lowers property taxes on the project for an approved period and is intended to support the company’s decision to relocate and expand local manufacturing capacity. Company executives said the Kentwood site would allow them to serve more local customers and recruit locally for production and support roles.
Company presentation and questions
Representatives of Proper Beverage spoke to commissioners at the meeting. The company’s CEO said, “We are thrilled, for the opportunity to come out to Kentwood,” and described the move as part of a major expansion. The CEO said the business “is a pass-through organization” that cans beverages for other brands and emphasized the company’s focus on food safety: “the badge is there to protect our customers’ brands. It’s food safety.”
During commissioner questions, company representatives explained operations and staffing plans: they said initial ramp-up would add multiple production lines over time, each adding three shifts of production staff, and that they expect to be “close to 75” employees by the end of 2025 while reaching the larger staff totals after new lines are installed. On water use, the CEO said a single batch produces roughly 20,000 gallons of finished product and a line may run that volume four to five times per day.
Commission action and context
City staff noted the property was the subject of prior consideration in January, when an industrial development district application was presented; the commission’s action June 17 specifically approved the industrial facilities exemption certificate for Uncommon Canning LLC/Proper Beverage Company. The public hearing on the resolution produced no speakers; the commission then voted to close the hearing and adopt the resolution.
What remains: company executives said the Hudsonville facility will remain open for a short overlap period after the Kentwood facility opens to ensure redundancy while new equipment comes online. The company estimated the Kentwood facility would be fully operational by the end of the second quarter of 2026, subject to machine lead times and supply issues.
