City breaks ground on new Business and Technology Campus east of downtown on M-50

By CRISTINA TRAPANI-SCOTT

The Tecumseh Big Band played as close to 100 community members and leaders gathered to break ground on the Tecumseh Business and Technology Campus east of downtown during a ceremony held Monday.

Among those who attended were members of the Eaton family, former owners of the property that was purchased by the City of Tecumseh in 2004. Also in attendance were Seventh District U.S. Congressman Mark Schauer, 57th District State Rep. Dudley Spade, Senator Cameron Brown’s representative, Nancy Jenkins, and Lenawee County Commissioner David Stimpson as well as neighboring community leaders.

Tecumseh City Mayor Harvey Schmidt gave the address and introduced the city council and city staff. He told all present that the purchase and development of such a business park was more than 40 years in the making and started when former Mayor Harold Easton and Eaton Farm patriarch at the time Arthur Eaton came to an agreement. Schmidt said, Eaton told Easton back then that the city would have the opportunity to purchase the land when the family was ready to sell it. In recent years, Arthur’s son, Meryl, served as the family’s liaison as the family and the City of Tecumseh negotiated the sale of the property. Meryl said after the ceremony that he and the family are pleased to be involved in helping Tecumseh progress into the future.

With the Eaton property, the city now has a 158-acre campus aimed at bringing high technology businesses to Tecumseh. Schmidt told attendees that following the purchase of the land, the city applied for grants through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and later received a $50,000 grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for a feasibility study looking at what types of industries to bring to the park. In addition, Tecumseh approved $1.1 million in matching funds for an EDA grant and more recently received American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds for the project. After noting the contract awardees, he highlighted the city’s plans for marketing the campus.

“I realize the challenges involved in marketing a new business and technology park in what is truly a downturn in our economy,” said Schmidt, “but we are up to the task, recognizing that we need to proactively direct the future of our community.”

Schauer, Spade, Jenkins and Stimpson all offered words of optimism in the shadow of difficult economic times.

“Congratulations for this day,” Schauer said, “which is going to help create jobs and make Tecumseh and Lenawee County much stronger and more successful.” He added that with fiercely competitive global economy that he called a “dog-eat-dog global economy,” it was necessary for local communities and organizations to collaborate, as they have in this case, to be successful.

Spade began by thanking all involved in the development, most notably the Eaton family. He highlighted how the campus already is creating jobs through the development currently being done on the site. In addition, he underscored the need to not only build such developments to draw high tech jobs to Michigan, but said that companies can find talent right here in Michigan and that Michigan needs to remain committed to giving its residents access to education and high tech training.

Jenkins read a letter from Brown, who could not attend the event. In the letter, he commended the City of Tecumseh for its forward thinking.

“With an eye for the future, Tecumseh is preparing for a better tomorrow,” he said.
Stimpson echoed Brown’s thoughts on Tecumseh placing itself in the forefront of inovation.

In closing, Schmidt took to the podium once more to offer a final note on Tecumseh’s future with the new campus.

“There are many who say that State of Michigan has seen the sun set on its economic strength,” he said, “and though no one can argue that we’ve not seen some of our darkest hours, but what follows the darkness of night are the first rays of sunshine before the dawn of a new day. We are standing in the first light of that new dawn and with the help of all of those involved in this new project Tecumseh, Lenawee County and the State of Michigan will one day soon bask in the glory of our successes. Thank you for coming. Let’s go throw some dirt.”