Kellogg to support revitalization of downtown Battle Creek

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. Kellogg Co. has announced that it will help in redevelopment and rebuilding efforts in its U.S. headquarters’ home town of Battle Creek.

Starting with the construction of a six-story, 122,500-square-foot office building for $22.5-million, Kellogg will have a presence in shaping—and funding—other downtown redevelopment projects, that will not only build on its campus and business, it will also branch into the city landscape and help to support Battle Creek as a food science center.

David Mackay, Kellogg’s chief executive officer, told the media that the new office building will allow the company to relocate about 680 employees from Kellogg’s Porter Street office complex to downtown. The ribbon-cutting on the new office is tentatively planned for sometime in 2010, the company said.

Other community rebuilding plans that Kellogg is considering supporting include expanding the city’s educational presence by possibly relocating the Battle Creek Area Math and Science Center from Springfield to downtown Battle Creek, creating a food science technology program for development and commercialization which will merge local producers with international business, create a partnership between educators to beef up curriculum involving food research, possibly consolidating the Battle Creek Family YMCA with the Battle Creek Parks and Recreation department and making safer walking spaces to encourage more foot-traffic in downtown Battle Creek, local reports said.