Gordon Food Service plans 173 new jobs

WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) - Gordon Food Service plans to add 173 new jobs over the next five years at a new 100,000-square-foot facility that would be built near its Wyoming headquarters, a company spokeswoman told 24 Hour News 8 on Tuesday.

"Most of the jobs would be new positions, however, some could be coming from Canada," Gordon Food Service spokeswoman Deb Abraham said.

The jobs would be white-collar roles in fields such as accounting, marketing and buying, she said.

The Michigan Economic Growth Authority board approved $1.7 million in tax credits Tuesday toward the food service firm's proposed $24.2 million project. Gordon Food Service would only be able to take full advantage of the credits if all the projected jobs are created.

Local incentives from the city of Wyoming are expected to be considered in the coming weeks. Final approvals for the plans are expected in mid-July, Abraham said.

Gordon Food Service, also known as GFS, considered a location in Ontario, Canada for the expansion, but "our preference would be to build" in the Grand Rapids area, the spokeswoman said.

Wyoming's incentives could include abatement on personal property tax -- the taxes companies pay on equipment -- and road improvements. The planned building would be located on the land once occupied by a concrete plant along 50th Street SW at U.S. 131.

City Manager Curtis Holt praised the planned expansion as the essence of "economic gardening -- meaning that, you have a local business that is home-grown, has continued to grow their business in Wyoming. Their headquarters is here in Wyoming," he said.

Speaking to reporters about GFS' plans Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Jack Poll took on critics who have questioned the city's attitude toward businesses.

"We've been pushed around a little bit the last couple weeks," he said, referring to complaints about enforcing Downtown Development Authority rules covering the types of businesses allowed to locate along 28th Street.

It's really been about looking at the community's long-term future, the mayor said.

Asked about whether the incentives -- aimed at longer-term gain -- were worth the short-term cost, Holt said "if Wyoming's going to be in a place where they can attract businesses and put businesses here -- and therefore jobs -- we're going to have to be in the incentive game because everybody else is there.

"If we don't play that game, these jobs, this business goes to Toronto. And we end up with a site that's an obsolete property -- that who knows when or where that might be developed."