County’s brownfield program approves its first project: Cedar Crest Dairy

HUDSONVILLE - The Ottawa County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority has approved a plan by Cedar Crest Dairy Inc. to redevelop a contaminated property. "We believe that this project will be beneficial for Hudsonville and the county as a whole,' said Roger Rycenga, chairman of the Ottawa County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. "Cedar Crest Dairy is investing a significant amount to clean up contamination, and make an unused property productive again. This investment will raise the property value of a previously defunct site.'

Anonymous

Jun 4, 2011

Cedar Crest Dairy employs about 100 people and distributes milk, ice cream and other frozen foods across the state. They plan to invest $1.9 million to redevelop the vacant site, where testing has revealed arsenic contamination from previous owners.

As a result of the redevelopment, Cedar Crest Dairy will be able to expand, potentially creating 17-20 new jobs in Hudsonville. About $66,545 of the total $1.9 million dollar investment can be reimbursed by capturing the increase in the property taxes paid by Cedar Crest Dairy over the next 10 years, county officials said.

The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners and the city of Hudsonville have each passed resolutions supporting the project.

The brownfield program provides an incentive for developers and businesses to clean up and redevelop contaminated and blighted property that may otherwise remain vacant.