Landscape Forms receives state support for Michigan expansion

Outdoor furniture manufacturer Landscape Forms Inc.’s plan to expand its operations in Kalamazoo County has secured $2.5 million in state backing. 

Landscape Forms plans to construct a 300,000-square-foot, single-story building next to its current operations in Comstock Township to expand its manufacturing capacity. The project is expected to break ground in spring 2025, finish in spring 2027, and be fully operational in early 2028. 

The $70 million project will be the largest investment in the company’s 55-year history, Landscape Forms CEO Margie Simmons said during a Michigan Strategic Fund board meeting this morning.

The addition will allow the company to “make bold strides forward,” Simmons said.

“We realize that we must continue to innovate to elevate our position in our industry and grow our business,” Simmons said. 

The Michigan Strategic Fund board this morning approved a $2.5 million Michigan Business Development Program grant for the expansion.

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The company was considering the project for sites in California, Minnesota or Texas if it did not receive the grant, according to Michigan Economic Development Corp. officials. Landscape Forms was considering locations in California and Texas because they are near robust customer bases, and the company has received competing incentive packages from other states.

With the approval of the grant, Landscape Forms has indicated they will move forward with expanding in Kalamazoo County, said Erik Wilford, managing director of business development projects at the MEDC, on a media briefing call Tuesday. 

Each location that Landscape Forms was evaluating “has its own strengths,” but the incentive packages in each region were similar, Wilford said. 

Two officials from Southwest Michigan First, the economic development organization for Kalamazoo County, spoke in favor of the project during this morning’s MSF board meeting.

“This is a homegrown Comstock Township company that has grown in place while becoming a global leader in the outdoor furniture and placemaking space, providing significant job creation and investment through the years,” said Jill Bland, executive vice president of economic development at Southwest Michigan First.  

Riley Lukomski, director of economic development at Southwest Michigan First, added that because the company is a leader in sustainability, innovation, design and culture in the region, it is “crucial we retain and support them through their growth.” 

High costs of construction and financing, as well as the competitive nature of the project, made incentives necessary to secure the project in Michigan, state officials said. 

Landscape Forms is also receiving incentives from the project from Comstock Township for real property tax abatement, and Kalamazoo County approved brownfield incentives valued at $3.2 million for the project. As well, the MEDC also authorized a 12-year, 6 mill state education tax abatement that would be used in conjunction with local abatements, valued at an estimated $2.2 million. A West Michigan Works! proposal is also in place to help the company with talent recruitment and workforce development in-kind services, valued at $168,360. 

The addition is expected to create 125 new jobs and at least $70 million worth of capital investment. New employees are expected to primarily be sales representatives, technical and administration staff, as well as team assemblers, welders and cutters. Wages for new jobs will start at $22.10 per hour with benefits. 

Founded in 1969, Landscape Forms also has operations in Minnesota and California but has its largest presence in Michigan, where it employs 421 people. The company’s planned addition is based on an increase in demand and sales, according to a briefing memo filed with the MEDC. 

Landscape Forms’ growth in recent years also has come via mergers and acquisitions. Last year, the company acquired outdoor teak furnishings brand Summit Furniture. The Monterey, Calif.-based Summit Furniture specializes in furnishing luxury hotels, high end residential properties, cruise ships and yachts. 

Landscape Forms also previously acquired Minnesota-based Loll Designs at the end of 2020, which marked the company’s first entrance into the residential outdoor furniture market.

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