The Right Place, Inc. assisted two Walker area companies with expansions this week. Healthcare manufacturer Altus Industries is adding 27 jobs and investing $1.15m to expand its Northridge Drive industrial area location. As well, panel production company Falk Panel will add 45 jobs and invest $35m at its Northridge Drive facility. 

Altus Industries

The Right Place, Inc. collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), announced that manufacturer, Altus Industries, will be expanding. The company plans to add 27 new jobs and approximately $1.15M in capital investment.

Altus Industries is a manufacturing company dedicated to creating advanced workflow solutions in a changing healthcare market. The Altus team combines ergonomics and innovative technologies (i.e. artificial intelligence, Internet of Things), while continuously building on new ideas to design workstations built specifically to improve healthcare workflows.

“We are thrilled to partner with MEDC and The Right Place at this time in our company’s history and with the changing market needs,” said Jeremy Spinney, Chief Executive Officer of Altus Industries. “We are taking advantage of a unique opportunity to invest in our growth alongside the significant healthcare technology growth in West Michigan.”

The Right Place worked closely with the MEDC to ensure the company continued its growth in the region rather than out-of-state locations. They offered support by effectively organizing state and local resources. This included collaboration with the MEDC to secure incentives through the Michigan Business Development Program. They also connected the company with West Michigan Works! and Grand Rapids Community College to assist with creating a plan to recruit and train new employees.

“Considering the growth of AI within the healthcare technology space and how Altus is continuing to evolve our portfolio into workflow solutions, our organization is at an inflection point culturally,” added Spinney. “Investing in our workplace and team members will accelerate our trajectory significantly, by continuing our portfolio focus on AI enablement, fleet management, connected technologies, and more solutions to better support care providers and patient care."

“The Right Place is thrilled to have played a role in supporting the expansion of Altus Industries,” said Eric Icard, Senior Business Development Manager at The Right Place and project lead. “This step forward, marked by the integration of new technology into their operations, showcases their commitment to our region. Their expansion further solidifies Greater Grand Rapids as a major player in the healthcare and technology industries, and we look forward to seeing what innovations stem from their growth.”

For more information on open positions, visit their website at www.altus-inc.com or their LinkedIn page at www.linkedin.com/company/altus-industries-inc. 

Falk Panel

The Right Place, Inc., in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), announced that panel production company Falk Panel will be expanding its facility at 1782 Northridge Drive in Walker. They are anticipating $35 million in new investments and the creation of an additional 45 new jobs with the support of a $270,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant.

Falk Panel is a manufacturing company that produces insulated metal panels. Located in Walker, Michigan, they are considered to have one of the most technically advanced panel production facilities in North America. Their extensive product lineup includes insulated wall, cold storage, and standing seam roof panels. They also supply fasteners, flashing, trim, tools, and vacuum lifting systems. Due to increased product demand, they are building a second metal panel manufacturing production line.

The Right Place worked closely with the MEDC to ensure the company continued its growth in the region rather than out-of-state locations. They offered support by effectively organizing state and local resources. This included collaboration with the MEDC to secure incentives through the Michigan Business Development Program. They also connected the company with West Michigan Works! and Grand Rapids Community College to assist with creating a plan to recruit and train new employees. The Right Place is also assisting the company with obtaining a PA 198.

Due to an existing PA 425 Agreement between the Cities of Grand Rapids and Walker, the project location is within the boundaries of the City of Walker but under the taxing jurisdiction of the City of Grand Rapids, which is working to facilitate an Industrial Facilities Tax Abatement (PA 198) for the project. The MEDC also authorized a State Education Tax Abatement to be used in conjunction with the locally approved abatement.

“Headquartered in the Netherlands, Falk Panel initially worked with The Right Place back in 2018 to establish their first North American operations right here in Walker,” said Brent Case, VP of Business Attraction of The Right Place and the lead on this project. “We’re thrilled to see the significant growth they’ve had over the past five years and happy that they’ve chosen to continue their expansion and investment in our region.”

“We are excited to have Falk expand their footprint in Walker. Since opening their doors in 2020, they have been an integral part of our growth in the Northridge industrial area. Their panels can be seen on many businesses throughout Walker and have become a source of pride for all of us,” said Gary Carey, Jr., Mayor of Walker. “The team at Falk continues to be a tremendous partner making investments not only in their business, but also our community. Falk is a perfect example of why Walker is known as a great place to live, work, and grow.”

For more information on open positions, visit falkpanel.com/careers. 

About The Right Place, Inc.
The Right Place, Inc., is a regional nonprofit founded in 1985 with the mission to drive sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity for all in the Greater Grand Rapids Region. The Right Place works to achieve this mission by focusing on three core areas: People, Place, and Prosperity. The Right Place is an Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) as designated by The International Economic Development Council. Find out more by visiting www.rightplace.org, liking us on Facebook, and following us on LinkedIn. 

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