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MMPA awarded Barrier Buster honor
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Monday, November 17, 2008 10:15 AM EST
OVID - Hard work is often needed to overcome difficult problems, and the Michigan State University Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources is hoping to give recognition to the organizations that don't go down without a fight.
The Michigan Milk Producers Association was one of two winners of the “Barrier Buster Award.”
“Essentially, the philosophy of the award is either when a new entrepreneur or an existing firm wants to do a new venture, there are various ‘barriers' that need to be ‘busted' to get the thing done,” said MSU Product Center Director Chris Peterson. “The MMPA had many barriers to overcome to get their expansion to the Ovid plant.”
In late June, work began on the $35 million expansion project to the MMPA's Ovid plant. However, getting to that point was not always easy.
One problem was the abandoned railroad that ran through the property.
“Gaining that railroad property was critical for us to expand the plant,” said MMPA General Manager John Dilland. “We worked very closely with the village of Ovid to provide an alternate trail around our plant - as opposed to going through the middle of it.”
The Product Center was also instrumental in making the expansion a reality. According to Peterson, Bob Craig, an innovation counselor, coordinated state agency approval for the expansion. Also, Production Center Product Marketing Economist Bill Knudson analyzed and wrote a paper describing the full economic impact of the expansion.
The paper allowed for the area surrounding the manufacturing facility to be designated an Agricultural Processing Renaissance Zone through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
After the construction is complete, the plant's estimated processing capacity will increase to more than 5 million pounds of milk per day, which is about a 2 million-pound increase.
“It's a project we think is really needed in this state. So, we are glad we received all the assistance that we could get,” Dilland said. “The Product Center was invaluable in terms of assisting us with their economic impact study.”
The facility is estimated to be finished in January 2010.
The Ovid plant currently employs 92, and with the expansion, will add at least 10 more employees. The expansion also is expected to create 510 jobs in other areas, including construction.
The awards were given out at the “Making it in Michigan” conference, held at the Lansing Center Nov. 13. This was the second year of doing the event. The other winner of the “Barrier Buster” was Down Home Cook'n, which helps former prison inmates re-enter society through baking.
Other awards given are: “Best Innovative Business Idea”, “Most Successful Business Transition,” “Counselor of the Year” and “Partner of the Year.”
Peterson said he hopes to continue presenting the awards in the future.
- Contact Michael Peterson at 725-5136 extension 223 or mpetersonarguspress@gmail.com.