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WALKER – The old one MLive Media Group and the Grand Rapids Press in Walker, which once printed 375,000 newspapers a week, was sold to a Pontiac industrial company for $ 9.75 million.
The nearly 236,000 square foot facility at 3100 Walker Ridge Drive will serve as Lee Contracting Inc.first location outside of Pontiac. Company founder Edward Lee worked to acquire the site from Herald Publishing Company LLC, which merged with The Grand Rapids Press Company LLC and other MLive subsidiaries on January 1, 2018.
Lee Contracting’s Walker installation will begin by offering electrical and mechanical services, with rigging, machine relocation and concrete machine foundations to follow. The sale closed on September 24 and included personal items such as a shelving system and office furniture, according to JLL Senior Vice President Bob Horn, who represented Lee Contracting on the purchase.
MLive Media Group announced in July 2020 the closure of the Walker Printing Plant. Beginning in October 2020, MLive moved its printing business to an Advance Publications Inc. facility – MLive’s parent company – in Cleveland as part of a cost reduction measure, according to the previous one MLive Reports. Walker’s production plant was built in 2007.
“We have served clients in West Michigan for several years and believe the business environment of the greater Grand Rapids area is a perfect fit for us,†Lee Contracting CEO Frederick Cauley said in a statement. “Growing our presence with an established office in Walker allows us to better meet the day-to-day needs of our existing clients in West Michigan, while expanding our ability to deliver our award-winning services to other businesses in the region. ”
Lee Contracting currently works with over a dozen companies in the Grand Rapids area, including an aluminum extrusion equipment manufacturer. Granco Clark Inc. and steel supplier Dennen Steel Corp.
“Walker is delighted to welcome Lee Contracting,” Walker Mayor Gary Carey said in a statement. “The commitment to their employees has helped them accelerate their growth and enables them to attract, retain and develop the best talent. The combination of investments Lee Contracting makes in their employees, as well as the communities in which they serve, make them a perfect choice for Walker. We are very happy that they are living, working and growing up in their new location in Walker. ”
Horn said the facility is “unique” with a layout that includes printing and warehousing space as well as a 40,000 square foot office building, Horn said.
“The space has a number of specialized features, including clear heights of 75 feet, fire protection, dual substation power supplies and a self-contained shelving system,†Horn said. “JLL was delighted to help Lee Contracting find the ideal satellite location for its expanding operations. ”
Based in Pontiac, Lee Contracting employs over 450 people and accepts applications from qualified tradespeople to work at its new location in Walker.
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