Hazekamp Meats will receive $400,000 in funding to help expand its existing operations in Fruitport. The project is expected to create 40 new jobs and generate $850,000 in private investment.

The grant is being made available to Fruitport Charter Township by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. with funds provided by the federal Community Development Block Grant program.

Fruitport will use the funding to extend the township water system to accommodate the expansion which is currently served by a private well. The township will also contribute an additional $120,000 to the project.

Michigan-based Hazekamp started as a meat-packing facility in 1905. The company has since expanded its capabilities to process other fresh food products and serves major retail companies across the Midwest. The company currently employs 105 people.

The Michigan EDC administers the state's Community Development Block Grant funds received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. These funds are used to provide grants and loans to eligible counties, cities, villages and townships — typically those with populations less than 50,000 — for economic development, community development and housing projects. Larger communities receive block grant funds directly from the federal government.

The MEDC is able to award approximately $50 million in federal CDBG funds each year. There are 1,655 local governments within the state eligible to apply for these funds. Projects are approved contingent upon compliance with state and federal requirements.

"Basic public infrastructure is the necessary backbone to continued successful economic development," MEDC President and CEO Don Jakeway said. "CDBG grants are a great resource for smaller communities to address the cost and create jobs."