Valley Center Technology Park Providing 924 Jobs
Tax Dollars Begin to Flow
To Educational Units
November 4, 2002
By: Dave Rogers
Valley Center Technology Park's 20 businesses employs 924 persons.
Welcome To The Valley Center Technology Park
Driving by you can hardly tell that there are 20 businesses in the park.
But Valley Center Technology Park, just south of the US-10 expressway, is home to thriving enterprises employing 924 persons.
The park is the center of an electionissue on the ballot Nov. 5 in Monitor Township. Officials of the Monitor Township Downtown Development Authority, which developed the park with the assistance of the Bay County Growth Alliance, are urging defeat of a referendum on a zoning issue.
"We need to keep the positive momentum which has been created in the township and continue to support the township board and planning commission," says John P. "Pat" O'Brien, D.D.A. officer and chairman of the Concerned Citizens Committee for Progress in Monitor Township.
The referendum seeks to repeal an action of the planning commission extending the height limit on buildings in the township from 45 to 75 feet. Some residents opposed to the height change circulated petitions to void the board's action.
O'Brien and others on the committee are supporting a "no" vote and urging voters to "Choose Progress." They fear that a negative stance on growth will inhibit development in the entire county. They point to recently released figures showing that the jobs in the park add an estimated $31 million in personal income to the local economy. A survey has shown that the median pay of employees in the park is $16.15 an hour or about $33,592 a year plus benefits.
"Summer tax dollars have begun to flow to educational units and we are considering a share of winter taxes with the township and the county," said O'Brien. "Eventually, we hope to expand the park and we hope that the excellent record we have made in providing jobs will be supported by all residents of the township."