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Lima Township: Orchid MacDee receives $2 million industrial facilities tax abatement

Photo by Alan Scafuri of Orchid MacDee facility in Lima Township.
Photo by Alan Scafuri of Orchid MacDee facility in Lima Township.

The Lima Township Board met on Tuesday, July 14, and unanimously adopted a resolution to grant Orchid MacDee a 12-year, $2 million industrial facilities tax abatement for new machinery and equipment.

Orchid MacDee, located on 13800 Luick Dr., has more than 35 years of orthopedic implant and instrument manufacturing in medical grade plastics. Orchid headquarters is located in Holt, Mich., and has facilities worldwide.

The company has experienced 30-percent growth in the past two years, according to company representative Tom Beneteau. He said Orchid has gone from 120 employees to 170 employees in the last year and a half.

With the new equipment installed, Beneteau said that the company is considering going to three full shifts from the current two shifts, and perhaps hiring at least 10 more people.

The MacDee company was founded in 1964, and was originally located on Jackson Road in the old Wackenhut Garden site, which will soon house the new Chelsea Area Fire Authority (CAFA) substation. MacDee moved to its present location on Luick Drive in 1976, and was acquired by Orchid in 2006.

In other news, Craig Maier said that the Jackson Road bridge project seems to be just about on schedule, and that the new bridge deck should be poured on Tuesday, July 15. After the bridge is poured, it must cure for 28 days, he said.

Maier also offered the board’s sincere condolences on the passing of friend and neighbor Art Lindaur, and offered his thoughts and prayers to the Lindaur family.

Bill Coury announced that the next Lima Township Neighborhood Watch meeting will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Lima Township Hall. Coury said that a representative from the Michigan Attorney General’s office will be giving a presentation on protection from identity theft.

Township Clerk Arlene  Bareis (l), Supervisor Craig Maier (center) and Trustee Greg McKenzie (r)
Township Clerk Arlene Bareis (l), Supervisor Craig Maier (center) and Trustee Greg McKenzie (r)
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