In an announcement Thursday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that three businesses, including Lexington’s Gielow Pickles, Inc, will be expanding with the help of the Michigan Strategic Fund.
Across the three communities affected by the announcement, the investments will create 165 jobs and put more than $17 million back into small communities. Gielow Pickles, Inc., a fifth-generation manufacturer of refrigerated and shelf stable products, is expanding in the village of Lexington. A leading producer of pickles, peppers, sauerkraut and various types of relish products, the company currently employs 172 Michiganders.
Gielow Pickles has continued to gain new customers as well as receive increased orders from its current customer base, prompting the company to plan an expansion. The project will see an additional facility constructed for the Lexington business, with the facility to be used for production, refrigeration, fermentation, grading and packaging.The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $10 million and create 100 jobs with the support of a $1 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant.
Gielow Pickles Vice President Craig Gielow expressed gratitude to the state and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), saying that the expansion will add “more agricultural growth of additional tonnage for crops of cucumbers, banana peppers, jalapeno peppers, bell peppers, cherry peppers, cabbage, carrots, and cauliflower.” Add to that the local business partnerships between Gielow, Michigan Sugar and St. Clair’s Cargill Salt Plant, and Gielow sees more business growth in the state and more pickles in his company’s future.
The project will further boost Michigan’s agribusiness industry and bring immediate good jobs to the area, and will solidify the company’s presence and future business in the state.
Gielow Pickles provides full benefits to its employees, including medical insurance, paid leave, and tuition assistance. The Sanilac Region Economic Consortium has committed to assisting the company with finding and recruiting talent and assisting with housing initiatives that will result in additional housing options for the workforce in the community.
Information on careers with Gielow Pickles can be found here.
