fairlife Adds 150 Jobs with $650 Million Coopersville Expansion as Coca-Cola Subsidiary Doubles Down on Michigan Dairy Production
fairlife, a Coca-Cola subsidiary, will invest $650 million to expand its Coopersville plant and create 150 new jobs with state infrastructure funding and tax abatement support.
COOPERSVILLE, Mich. — A major expansion is coming to West Michigan, as fairlife, LLC announced plans to invest up to $650 million at its Coopersville facility and add 150 new jobs.
The Michigan Strategic Fund Board approved two measures Tuesday to support the project: a $17 million infrastructure grant for the City of Coopersville and a tax abatement valued at approximately $3.9 million for the company.
fairlife, a subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company, produces ultra-filtered, lactose-free milk and protein shakes. The expansion will add two new high-speed production lines and roughly 245,000 square feet of production space to keep up with growing consumer demand.
"fairlife's investment will create 150 new jobs and power $650 million into West Michigan's economy," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. "This is a huge win for Michigan."
The Coopersville facility has been part of the community since 2012 and currently employs more than 400 people, making it one of the state's largest dairy-related food processors.
The $17 million Strategic Site Readiness Program grant will fund improvements to a regional water system serving Coopersville, Polkton Charter Township and Allendale Charter Township. The current system is more than 50 years old and operating at 80% capacity.
Coopersville City Manager Dennis Luce called it a "forward-looking investment" that positions the city for continued economic growth well beyond the fairlife project.
"Long-term partnerships like these are evidence that companies see the strength of Michigan's food, agriculture and forestry industry and want to leverage its success," said Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Tim Boring.
"This investment also reinforces our mission at the state of improving quality of life for Michiganders. We're committed to attracting projects that improve infrastructure and value-added processing in a way that benefits our industry, our communities and regional economies."
The expansion adds to Michigan's $125.8 billion food and agriculture economy and builds on a decade of growth at the Coopersville site.
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