A leading manufacturer of crowd control and visual barriers, M R Products will invest $4.2 million to expand its operations in Copemish, Michigan.

Established in 1960 and operating under the trade name Mr. Chain and currently has 77 employees in Manistee County. The company has experienced significant growth, more than tripling in revenue and expanding its workforce by nearly 40 percent over the past year, according to state officials. M R Products plans to expand into another building in Copemish.

“This Jobs Ready Michigan Grant will enable M R Products, Inc. to continue to invest in its people, particularly in training for skilled manufacturing trades,” said M R Products Chief Operating Officer Ryan Schultz. “After 61 years in business, more than 50 of which have been in the village of Copemish, the expansion of 2021 places the Company in a position to work more efficiently and effectively and hire more northern Michigan residents. We are extremely excited and grateful to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for its award of this generous grant.”

The company was awarded a $200,000 Jobs Ready Michigan Grant to support recruitment and job training efforts associated with the expansion in Manistee County. The company currently offers community college training that will provide employees with a transferable certification when completed, giving employees career pathways and opportunities to gain new skills.

The?Jobs Ready Michigan Program is designed to provide grants for business expansion and location projects that lead to job creation and investments in Michigan that have a demonstrated training need, particularly in pursuing new opportunities for high-tech, high-demand, and high-wage jobs. The project aligns with MEDC’s strategic goals of creating jobs in the field of manufacturing and providing jobs in an economically disadvantaged area of Michigan.

“The sustained growth and success of M R Products, a female owned company, in Copemish continues to provide great jobs in rural Manistee County,” said Stacie Bytwork, President and CEO of the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce. “The announcement today demonstrates the value of working together with businesses, our state partners, county governments, and the Chamber as we took proactive steps to invest in jobs and our communities.”