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MarketOne says it secured $34 million in projects and a pipeline including a 250‑job foreign direct investment for Cass County
Summary
MarketOne presented its annual report to commissioners, highlighting multi‑county economic development work, $34 million in projects pulled in since 2021, several local pipeline projects and a potential foreign direct investment that could add 250 jobs to the smart park.
A MarketOne representative presented the organization’s annual report and told commissioners the nonprofit has been working to scale capacity in Southwest Michigan to attract and support business investment in Cass County and neighboring jurisdictions.
MarketOne said it has helped bring in about $34 million in projects since 2021 and, organization-wide since 2016, has assisted with 1,284 jobs created and nearly 2,000 jobs retained, with more than $2.25 billion in capital investment. For Cass County specifically, the presenter reported a local pipeline of projects that could create about 140 jobs and retain 312, yielding an estimated $16 million in wages and nearly $20 million in capital investment.
The presentation also highlighted programs that support municipalities and small towns, including grant writing and administration for the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) community development block grants, assistance securing Office of Rural Prosperity Rural Readiness grants (an example request cited: $60,000), and exploratory work on a business incubator with Southwestern Michigan College.
A MarketOne representative described a potential foreign direct investment project: a Turkish company producing fiberglass and other components for the RV industry that MarketOne said is considering locating in the smart park and could produce “250 jobs” over a three- to five-year horizon if the project proceeds as envisioned. The representative said the company has received a “very nice offer from the state” to support investment.
Why it matters: MarketOne framed its role as providing the staffing and grant-administration capability that smaller municipalities lack, allowing them to pursue state and federal dollars and to support economic development projects that increase the county tax base.
Procedure and next steps: commissioners received the annual report; MarketOne staff said they are available for follow-up and can attend future meetings if requested.
Ending: MarketOne listed recent award winners and local investor partners and invited commissioners to contact the organization for more details.
