A local organization charged with attracting new businesses to St. Clair County has announced plans to construct a new headquarters building at Desmond Landing in Port Huron. The Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County will be receiving $3.4 million in federal grant dollars which will be put towards construction of the new building near the current Blue Water YMCA and Harborside Office Building. Dan Casey, CEO of the EDA, says the waterfront location will help attract new investment to the county.
“What we’re going to end up with is a great building, that’s going to… provide a one stop shop for businesses,” said Casey. “Everything from training, to strategic planning, workshops on how to start a business or finance a business… to entertaining clients.”
The EDA will also receive about $100,000 in state grants and Casey says the total cost of the project is expected to be nearly $5 million. The organization’s headquarters are currently located in the Port Huron Municipal Office Center. The EDA’s business incubator, called The Underground, is housed in a separate space on Superior Mall in Downtown Port Huron. Construction on the new building, which will be located on 1.7 acres of land near Griswold and 4th Streets, is expected to begin early next year.
Artists rendering of the new EDA building
