Storage products manufacturer Speedrack Products Group is investing $64.5 million in a new manufacturing facility in Walker, Michigan. The project is expected to create 164 new jobs.

The company is establishing a new facility where it will roll-form, weld, and powder-coat paint fabricated pallet rack and system type modules. The facility will utilize automated systems wherever feasible.

“Our customers, particularly those in the e-commerce industry, have seen a significant increase in sales over the last several years, and so Speedrack has invested and grown in order to support that growth,” explains Speedrack President, Eric Quist. “We recognized that if we were going to continue to meet this new demand, we needed to expand our manufacturing footprint. Thanks to the support provided by The Right Place with their partners at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, we were able to focus our growth here in West Michigan, for which we are thrilled. Finally, none of this would be possible without the owners of Speedrack Ron and Dawn Ducharme who reinvest 100% of the profits back into the company.”

According to state officials, the project received the support of an $820,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund. In addition, the city of Walker offered a 50-percent property tax abatement in support of the project and The Right Place is supporting the project through marketing and recruitment efforts.

“Michigan is grateful for the Speedrack team’s continued vote of confidence in Michiganders. We are proud to send the message that Michigan’s economy is recovering and we are going to keep this momentum going. Michigan is a place where businesses, communities and people can take risks, succeed and grow,” said Quentin Messer, Jr., incoming CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and President and Chair of the Michigan Strategic Fund. “We appreciate the efforts of The Right Place and local partners in Walker to support this project and will work with Speedrack as it continues to grow and add jobs for Michigan residents.”

The company has been a leading provider of pallet racking and storage systems for more than 50 years. The company established its first headquarters in Sparta in 1989 and today employs 278 people between its Sparta and Quincy (Branch County) locations. Speedrack handles all aspects of material handling in-house with engineering design for its warehouse facilities, distribution centers, and all other material handling systems.

“This is a considerable win for the Greater Grand Rapids region, and another nod to the health and strength of our business environment,” said President & CEO of The Right Place, Randy Thelen. “Our regional economy has strong roots in manufacturing, and Speedrack’s decision to expand its presence in our region is a testament to the resilience and continued prosperity within this industry.”

The project aligns with MEDC’s strategic goals of supporting growth in the focus industry of manufacturing. In addition, Speedrack has a strong focus on apprenticeships, growing skilled trades skill sets and better career pathways, local economic development officials said. The company places an emphasis on sourcing talent locally by building relationships with high schools in the area to encourage manufacturing as a lifetime career possibility.