(Editor’s note: Mayor Harvey  Schmidt read the following statement at the Dec. 21 city council meeting regarding the purchase of the Tecumseh Products property by Consolidated Biscuit Company.)

The Consolidated Biscuit Company/Tecumseh Products project met a major milestone on Friday, in that the two companies have closed on the sale of the E. Patterson property here in Tecumseh. This is a major step in securing the Consolidated Biscuit jobs for Tecumseh and Lenawee County. While the Consolidated Biscuit project is moving forward, the specific timeframe for the creation of jobs is not known at this time. As you may recall, the company has estimated they will create a minimum of 500 jobs here in Tecumseh over the next five years.

There is still much work to do on this project. However, there are a number of individuals and organizations we think deserve special attention and thanks.

First and foremost we need to thank the two companies who have negotiated the terms of this agreement. The Tecumseh Products Company, who, without their vision and willingness to assist us in insuring the reuse of this property, this project simply could not have happened. The Tecumseh Products Company willingly chose to take a proactive approach in dealing with the issues related to this facility. Since the beginning of these negotiations, the Tecumseh Products wanted to be a part of history by helping to repeat that which occurred in Tecumseh 75 years ago; more specifically, to allow our community to assist them in creating a new manufacturing facility bringing new jobs to our area, and thus a brighter outlook for the community and its people. The Tecumseh Products Company and the Herrick Family deserve to be publicly thanked for their generosity and foresight.

While Consolidated Biscuit is the new owner of this building, we are happy that the Tecumseh Products Company will maintain a significant presence in our community for the foreseeable future. It is our hope that the spirit of cooperation between the Company and the City of Tecumseh that has existed for the past 75 years and made even stronger by this endeavor, will continue and perhaps find new avenues of cooperation.

This deal is of course not one sided. The Consolidated Biscuit team, in the persons of Mr. Jim Appold and Bill Varney, along with their attorneys, should be lauded for their strong resolve, to persevere through the tough decisions and many obstacles that presented themselves through the past 18 months or so. This is a company that we believe will be a good corporate citizen and we look forward to strengthening our relationship in the years to come.

We also need to thank: The representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency and their staff, for their assistance in working through the federal requirements associated with this project. Congressman Mark Schauer and his assistant Renell Weathers, State Senator Cameron Brown, and State Representative Dudley Spade who helped to make sure that the project remained a viable one.

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, as well as the Lenawee Economic Development Corporation who also stepped in to assist us. We appreciate their willingness to work with us. We also appreciate the support that we continue to receive from South Central Michigan Works.
On a personal basis, I as Mayor and we as a Council, need to thank our City Manager Kevin Welch and our Economic Development Director Paula Holtz and their staffs for the yeoman’s effort they put forth in making one of the most important projects to come our way, in a very long time, come to fruition. As close as I was to this project, I’m not sure that I have fully grasped the magnitude of how much time and effort they have put into enabling the sale of this property. I am in awe of their service and dedication to this community.

This project has truly been a community effort. Many people, including this Council, and organizations played a role in this and will continue to do so in the months to come. This is a great moment for Tecumseh, Lenawee County and Michigan. At least 500 jobs created at a time when they are so badly needed. This is the ultimate green project, utilizing an aging manufacturing facility at the same time addressing the issues that came with it, ensuring the public health and safety of our citizens is preserved.

In closing, please allow me to repeat my earlier statement, the specific timeframe for the creation of jobs is not known at this time. Anyone interested in employment at the Tecumseh Biscuit Company should not call Consolidated Biscuit or the Tecumseh Products. They may, however, contact the Tecumseh Economic Development Office to have their names added to the database we have created, which will be forwarded to the appropriate hiring agency as the need arises.

Mayor Harvey Schmidt
City of Tecumseh