Continental Dairy Facility and Fairlife Share 100-Acre Campus in Coopersville

Ottawa County is experiencing a major economic boost as dairy producer Fairlife LLC announces a massive $650 million expansion of its Coopersville production plant, adding two high-speed production lines and 150 new jobs.

The Michigan Strategic Fund Board approved two grants totalling $21 million to support the expansion, including a $17 million Strategic Site Readiness Program grant awarded to the City of Coopersville and a 15-year, $3.9 million Alternative State Essential Services Assessment Exemption grant.

Production Capacity to Nearly Double

Fairlife plans to expand production capacity at the facility with the addition of two new high-speed production lines, an investment expected to total at least $650 million and create approximately 150 new jobs at the facility.

The expansion will add 245,000 square feet to the production plant located at 999 W. Randall St. Fairlife expects to begin production on the new lines in 2028.

Fairlife was founded in 2012 as a joint venture between Select Milk Producers and Coca-Cola and opened its Coopersville facility in 2013. The company produces ultra-filtered milk and nutrition beverages. In 2020, Coca-Cola fully acquired the business.

Today, Fairlife's Coopersville plant employs more than 400 people, and with this expansion, the facility will have more than doubled its production capacity.

"Fairlife is experiencing continued growth and requires additional capacity to meet growing consumer demand," Michigan Economic Development Corp. wrote in a memo on the project.

Massive Increase in Raw Milk Usage

With the expansion, Fairlife would use an additional 4 million pounds of raw milk daily. According to the MEDC, the expansion would support more than 6,500 direct, indirect and induced jobs across the state, including 1,638 jobs in the dairy sector.

"We're talking 4 million pounds per day of additional fluid milk coming into our site, 150 well paying jobs, and a ripple effect tenfold for well paying jobs throughout our supply chain," Phil LaMothe, senior vice president of manufacturing and engineering for Fairlife, told the MSF Board. "We have every intention to grow in West Michigan, we're here to stay and have roots in West Michigan."

$17 Million Upgrades to Aging Water Infrastructure

Coopersville will use the $17 million Strategic Site Readiness Program funds for a two-phase project that will upgrade the area's water system, which currently relies on transmission mains constructed in the 1930s.

In the first phase, the project will add capacity and redundancy to the water system, while the second phase will construct a new 800-foot elevated, 1 million-gallon water tank. When completed, the water system expansion will provide 1.1 million gallons of water daily to the Coopersville area.

"By making these infrastructure upgrades now, the city and region will be able to secure this immediate investment by fairlife, while also positioning the region for additional long-term economic growth," the MEDC wrote in the memo. "In addition to being necessary for the Fairlife expansion, these improvements will also have a cascading effect, enabling immediate site readiness for existing and future industrial parcels in the City of Coopersville and the surrounding region, supporting manufacturing, food processing, dairy operations, and related supply chain investment."

Aging Infrastructure Was Major Barrier to Development

The MEDC called the area's water system one of the community's "most significant barriers to economic development and long-term resilience."

"We're really excited about this opportunity to improve our aging infrastructure," Dennis Luce, Coopersville city manager, told the Michigan Strategic Fund Board. "We have a sense of security too with the redundant water line we're proposing."

Statewide Economic Impact

Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the approval today, highlighting how the investment demonstrates Michigan's commitment to competing for transformational projects and good-paying, high-skill jobs.

"Michigan is open for business and on the move. Today's investment highlights how we're competing hard for transformational projects and good-paying, high-skill jobs," said Governor Whitmer. "fairlife's investment will create 150 new jobs and power $650 million into west Michigan's economy. This is a huge win for Michigan, and proof that when we work together to improve our infrastructure, train our workers, and revitalize our places, we can compete with anyone."

Quentin Messer, Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and chair of the MSF, added:

"The West Michigan agribusiness corridor is a significant component of Michigan's overall economy, and it is imperative it has the infrastructure it needs to produce high-quality, high-recognition products that people across the nation know and enjoy."

City Manager Highlights Forward-Looking Investment

The City of Coopersville expressed enthusiasm about partnering with the MEDC and the State through the Strategic Site Readiness Program to invest in critical water infrastructure.

"The City of Coopersville is extremely excited about the opportunity to partner with the MEDC and the State through the Strategic Site Readiness Program to invest in critical water infrastructure that will strengthen our system's capacity and reliability for both current and future needs," said Dennis Luce, City Manager for Coopersville. "This project is not only about improving essential services for our residents and businesses, it also positions us for continued economic growth. In particular, it supports the expansion of fairlife, one of our largest local employers, which is a significant win for our agricultural community here in West Michigan and for dairy suppliers across the entire state."

"This is the kind of forward-looking investment that benefits our city, our region, and Michigan as a whole," Luce continued.

Statewide Agricultural Partnership

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Tim Boring emphasized the importance of long-term partnerships with companies that value Michigan's food, agriculture and forestry industries.

"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."

More Than Fairlife's Expansion

The Coopersville expansion follows another $650 million expansion in Webster, N.Y., where Fairlife is set to open a new production facility later this year, demonstrating the company's continued growth trajectory nationwide.

Timeline and Next Steps

• Current employment: More than 400 people at the Coopersville facility
• New jobs: Approximately 150 positions
• Total investment: At least $650 million
• Production increase: 245,000 square feet added
• Raw milk increase: 4 million pounds per day
• Statewide job impact: More than 6,500 direct, indirect and induced jobs
• Water system capacity: 1.1 million gallons per day when completed
• Expected production start: 2028