A new street was dedicated today in the Fort Custer Industrial Park. “Shiga Drive” isn’t much more than a dirt trail right now, but soon, it’ll be a major roadway through more than 60 acres of recently cleared land, just waiting for new businesses to move in.

Battle Creek Unlimited President Joe Sobieralski told the collection of city and business leaders and at least three current and former mayors that they already have one new tenant to occupy the new space. Sobieralski said that the new 60 acre property will have three 20 acre sites.

The new area occupies land just south of Stanley Drive, not far off Hill Brady Road.  The dedication coincides with the 50th year of the Michigan-Shiga Sister State Agreement.  Mitsuhiro Wada, the Consul General of Japan in Detroit spoke and noted that since 1978, Battle Creek has warmly welcomed Japanese business and residents to the community. He said the latest survey by his office reveals that Japanese companies employ over 7,000 in Battle Creek….nearly half of all the jobs brought to the state by Japanese companies. Wada said “The new road is a perfect metaphor for the journey that Japanese companies and Battle Creek are taking together, a wonderful journey of mutual prosperity, partnership and friendship.”

Shiga road site
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Photo by Tim Collins/TSM
Photo by Tim Collins/TSM
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