By Elena Hines

Three Rivers Commercial-News

MENDON – The 72-acre Mendon Enterprise Park on M-60, now a field, will soon have water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and roads; local, county and state officials broke ground Tuesday for infrastructure in the park.

Mendon’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA) will underwrite the $600,000 project, slated for completion by Oct. 31.

Village manager John Hyden said he had already sold two parcels in the park:  one to an industrial company and one to a car dealership. He expects at least one site plan on his desk by the end of the month.

Lots in the park have not been split up yet, so any size company could be accommodated. The area along M-60 is zoned for general business, the middle section is zoned light industrial (such as for auto repair) and the back section is zoned heavy industrial.

Mendon residents would like to see a grocery store, a pharmacy or drug store, or general business go into the park, Hyden said.

The village had purchased the property about 20 years ago; it was placed in the DDA district about six months ago.

“It’s going to create new tax base, new money coming into the village,” Hyden said. “Hopefully it will bring in business that will help support the community.”

Dave Allen, executive director of the St. Joseph County Economic Development Corporation, said the park was “all about taking a look beyond the horizon” – finding ways for businesses to remain profitable and expand if the opportunity arose.

It also broadens the county’s product, giving him “more to market,” he said.

For more information about the park, call Hyden at 496-4395.

###