Industrial Park

The City of Niles Industrial Park is strategically located in the Detroit/Chicago corridor. Niles offers a favorable business climate for industrial expansion. Some of the significant factors of the Niles  Industrial Park are proximity, market availability, tax benefits, abundant dependable energy, water resources, skilled and semiskilled labor supply, industrial financing, business government cooperation, and rail transportation are inherent advantages. Therefore, Niles and Southwestern Michigan area are emerging as an important new face in the business and industrial community.

The Niles Industrial Park, consists of approximately 418 acres within the city limits, which is located in both Berrien and Cass Counties in Southwestern Michigan. The City owned 16" water line, municipal sewer, and a 14 million gallon capacity wastewater treatment plant are in place. The wastewater treatment plant currently is operating at a 3 million gallons daily and has the ability to triple it’s capacity. 

Virtually unlimited water resources are available, and dependable gas supply is assured by a 4" high pressure gas main from SEMCO Energy. The Industrial Park is also served by telephone service as well as cable television from TCI.

Accessibility

Niles Industrial Park is served by a diversified transportation network. Rail connections to all major markets are assured. The park is adjacent to Norfolk Southern tracks and the industrial park owns all the sidings within the park.

Passenger service is provided by Amtrak with eight trains daily. Jerry Tyler Memorial Airport is one-half mile from the park. Michiana Regional Airport in South Bend, Indiana, and the Elkhart, Indiana airport both offer scheduled air service with major airlines, and are within a 15 mile radius of the industrial park.

The park is also within a three mile radius of several major highways within the area, with East-West highways U.S. 12 and M-60, and North-South highways U.S. 31, M140 and M51. The Indiana Toll Road is 8 miles away and Interstate 94 is 20 miles away.

Niles’ strategic central location makes it a one day truck drive to approximately 80% of both the United States and Canadian population. The Indiana Sea Port is only about a one hour drive away from the industrial park.

Numerous local motor freight companies, parcel services, bus and taxi services round out the transportation advantages of the Niles Area.

Favorable Tax Picture

Michigan has stabilized it’s tax system to a greater degree than many states. New industry entering the Southwestern Michigan Tri-County area of Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties may do so with assurance that they will receive fair tax treatment now and in the future.

Financial Flexibility

Financial assistance is available for any well-founded industrial project in Niles. Whether your requirements are financing of land, buildings or equipment, the Niles community and the Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance are prepared to meet your specific industry’s needs.

Industrial Revenue Bonds, Community Development Block Grants, Economic Development Administration, City’s revolving loan fund and a combination of other local and federal incentives offer solid financial assistance in the industrial development.

Qualified local builders, assisted by local design and engineering personnel can handle construction projects of all sizes and types at a very competitive cost.

Labor - Productivity

An abundant supply of intelligent, skilled and semi-skilled labor has been a major factor in the existing industrial development in Southwestern Michigan.

Industrial training is available through many local and area vocational technical educational facilities, as well as local and state government training programs.

Southwestern Michigan College, Lake Michigan College, Andrews University, Indiana University at South Bend, Ivy Tech, St. Mary's College, Davenport College, Bethel College, Holy Cross College, and the University of Notre Dame are only a few of the schools that are nearby. Cooperative programs with Western Michigan University, Michigan State University and Ferris State University are in place to provide high technology expertise.

Industrial Growth

Southwestern Michigan’s advantages are beginning to be recognized by more and more manufacturers. Among the firms already located in the Industrial Park are National-Standard, Niles Packaging Products, ABB Garden City Fan, Tem-Pace Inc., Ironwood Displays Inc., Ramer Products, Treasure Chest, Michiana Box & Crate and Modineer Company. Additional major industrial firms in the Niles area include Simplicity Pattern Co., Tyler Refrigeration Corp., French Paper Company and National Store Fixtures, to mention a few of the 34 that are located in the Niles area.

Community Pride

The City of Niles is known as the "City of Four Flags." Niles witnessed territorial claims by France, Britain and Spain before the United States. The Niles area has a year-round population of about 40,000 with an estimated county population of 172,000.

Niles has all the charm and comfort of a small town or country living, while providing convenient access to larger cities, cultural attractions and a variety of vacation centers.

All types of housing, a 179 bed, well-equipped hospital, a 103,000 volume library, a fully equipped fire department and police force, an active YMCA, fine shopping, excellent schools and churches are all part of the Niles community. Communication needs are filled by six television studios, cable television, many AM-FM radio stations, and a local daily newspaper. These are only a few of the qualities that add to the desirability of the Niles area.

The St. Joseph river runs directly through Niles, contributing virtually unlimited water resources, as well as beauty, and exceptional recreational opportunities. Numerous streams, inland lakes and nearby Lake Michigan provide convenient access to sailing, fishing, swimming and boating.