Cartridges Are Us announces major expansion in Ithaca, Gratiot County, Michigan

Nov. 24, 2008 - PRLog -- Ithaca-based Cartridges Are Us announced its decision today to expand its existing manufacturing operations in the South Ithaca Industrial Park / Renaissance Sub Zone in Ithaca, Gratiot County, Michigan through the purchase and rehabilitation of a nearby existing building, as well as the addition of new equipment and shifts at both facilities. Cartridges Are Us, a division of Illinois-based Clover Technologies Group, is a global remanufacturer of inkjet cartridges and has been in Ithaca since 2003.  The company expects to create 75 direct jobs next year, and up to 186 within 5 years through its $1.6 million expansion project.

Steve Iocco, President of Cartridges Are Us notes, “We are very pleased with the support we have received from state and local authorities; they have made it possible for Cartridges Are Us to bring jobs from Mexico to Ithaca, MI.   A special thank you goes to Don Schurr and his team who did an outstanding job in accommodating our company needs and securing these jobs for Gratiot County.”  Brad Heffner, Ithaca City Manager comments, “We are thankful for the continued investment by the company as they continue to be a great corporate citizen in Ithaca.  The additional jobs will have a direct benefit to the Ithaca area.  We are proud to continue to be the home of Cartridges Are Us.”

Governor Jennifer Granholm announced the State of Michigan’s support for the expansion in the form of a Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) Credit valued at $1.2 million over 7 years.  The City of Ithaca and County of Gratiot came forward with proposed tax incentives including an Industrial Rehabilitation Credit on renovations of the additional facility, and an Industrial Tax Abatement on all new equipment.

Don Schurr, Greater Gratiot Development, Inc. President comments, “This is an example of perfect collaboration between a company, State, and local authorities to secure substantial new investment and jobs for Michigan in Gratiot County.”  The company will begin renovations on the 40,000 square foot building and installation of new equipment
immediately.

The Ithaca facility is Clover Technologies Group’s 9th North American assembly facility, adding to its Mexicali, Mexico;  Calexico, CA;  Thousand Oaks, CA;  Ottawa, IL;  and Ithaca, MI locations.  Cartridges Are Us is headquartered in the South Ithaca Industrial Park, a Michigan Certified Business Park and Tax-Free Renaissance Sub Zone.  Gratiot County hosts four Michigan Certified Business Parks and five Tax-Free Renaissance Sub-Zones, with hundreds of acres of available property.   Visit http://www.gratiot.org/ggdi for more information.   To learn more about Cartridges Are Us and Clover Technologies Group visit http://www.cartridgesareus.com and http://www.clovertech.com.

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Greater Gratiot Development, Inc. (GGDI) is organized to coordinate economic development efforts in the greater Gratiot County, Michigan area.