Bulk Ag Innovations, dba West Michigan Tool & Die, a contract tool and die shop, is expanding its operations in Benton Harbor Township, Michigan. The $3.4 million project is expected to create 22 jobs.

Due to increased demand, the company will add a bay and reconfigure its machining building. Michigan was chosen for the project over a competing site in Chicago.

“The West Michigan Tool & Die team is excited to see this project go forward, which will expand our capabilities at our Benton Harbor Township facility, which is in a federal HUBZone and is certified as such.?WMTD is also looking forward to offering our expanded capabilities to new and existing clients as we work to leverage our Minority Business Enterprise certification to offer supplier diversity to the market,” said WMTD CEO Victor Mowatt. “MEDC, Michigan Works! and the Cornerstone Alliance have helped us to maintain during the last few challenging years and emerge ready for growth. We look forward to new opportunities and team members.”

The project is being supported by an $88,000 Micro Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. Adopted by the Michigan Strategic Fund in 2019, the Micro MBDP is designed to promote business growth especially in rural areas or areas with high unemployment as well as target industries. The Micro MBDP provides grants, loans, or other economic assistance to businesses for highly-competitive projects in Michigan that have fewer job creation numbers than required by the original MBDP guidelines.

“We are thrilled West Michigan Tool & Die will be expanding in Benton Harbor Township as the project will bring immediate job opportunities in advanced manufacturing to residents,” said Cornerstone Alliance Business Development Manager Cathy Tilley. “We congratulate West Michigan Tool & Die for their ongoing success.”

West Michigan Tool & Die is primarily engaged in manufacturing special tools and fixtures for use with machine tools, die-casting machines and presses.