Industrial Development

Overview

Through an innovative partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), Grayling Charter Township has 2,000 acres available for industrial and commercial development, just off of I-75 at Four Mile Road. This premier land offers abundant, surrounding natural resources and infrastructure to prospective corporate residents.

Previously designated for recreational use, the land was acknowledged by the State to be more efficient for economic development in Crawford County, prompting them to market the land to developers. The MDNR will use the proceeds to purchase higher-use recreational lands elsewhere in the state.

"This unique opportunity to develop state-owned land for industrial use will have a significant, positive impact on the region's economy..."
-Terry Wright, Grayling Charter Township Supervisor

Schedule & Updates

Grayling Charter Township has a comprehensive Land Use, Infrastructure and Marketing Plan for the Four Mile Industrial Park. If you would like information or would like someone to contact you, call (989) 348-4361 or send an email to . Someone will get right back to you.

Workforce Development Partners

We are committed to offering a well-trained, enthusiastic labor pool from which to draw your future leaders. The outstanding area colleges and course extensions available in our region offer your prospective employees the opportunity to enhance their existing knowledge and skills.

• Kirtland Community College
• M-TEC
• MSU Extension

Major Employers in the Region

• Mercy Hospital
  Mercy Hospital is Crawford County's largest employer offering comprehensive health care services. Extended care facilities include Mercy Manor and Meadows of Grayling, two quality institutions.
• Georgia-Pacific
  One of the world's leading manufacturers and distributors of paper and building products.
• Weyerhaeuser
  Weyerhaeuser is an international forest products company founded in 1900.
• Camp Grayling
  Camp Grayling is a National Guard training facility, which employs 160 military personnel. The camp spans 147,000 acres in Crawford, Kalkaska and Otsego counties.
• AJD Forest Products
  The largest industrial lumber producer in the lake states. This local sawmill provides wood fuel to neighboring industrial corporations.
• Air Way Automation
  Local manufacturer of automated parts feeding and assembly equipment.

Regional Impact

Grayling Charter Township is working cooperatively with other communities and organizations to strategically plan the region's growth. The ultimate goal of this new economic development effort is to maintain the region's quality of life and "small town appeal" while creating planned, workforce opportunities through the addition of good corporate neighbors.

Using a modest average annual growth rate with a build-out of 35 years, an initial impact analysis has been completed to use as a basis for planning the infrastructure needs of the development and planning the potential impact on the area community service providers.

"We won't be a sea of strip malls," states Grayling Charter Township Supervisor Terry Wright.
"Our vision is to maintain quality of life and small town appeal, while creating new job opportunities in the region."