Located in Michigan for a century, the Whirlpool Corporation has upped its investment in the Benton Harbor community. The company committed to constructing a brand new $88 million office building in the heart of downtown and upgrading its other existing facilities. By the end of 2011, Whirlpool will have completed the first phase of its three phase office investment strategy.
The move consolidates upwards of 4000 employees and full time contractors from 17 buildings into three central campuses, and means that 84 percent of Whirlpool’s core operations will be in buildings owned by the company.
“We’re also sending a message to other businesses,” said Jeff Noel, Corporate Vice President of the Whirlpool Corporation during a recent WJR interview. “Michigan is a good place to grow and invest.”
Noel also reports strong partnerships between his company, its employees, and the community’s private and non-profit sectors.
“Whirlpool’s total payroll is in the hundreds of millions, which allows us to bring a core of stability to the area and makes us an important part of the community,” Noel said. “Our employees also are committed and active volunteers here, whether they serve on local school boards, provide weekly meals to the homeless, or contribute their own dollars to causes they value.”
Whirlpool has offered an active voice in causes such as Habitat for Humanity, community redevelopment projects, and the turnaround of the Benton Harbor school system.
“We feel that if you’re part of the community you have a responsibility to invest and play an active role,” Noel said. “Where there is a focus and a vision, we will always be shoulder to shoulder with our neighbors to make things happen.”
The Whirlpool Corporation is a leader of the $120 billion global home appliance industry. Its brands, which include Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid and Jenn-Air, are marketed in nearly every country around the world. The corporation manufactures appliances across all major categories, including fabric care, cooking, refrigeration, dishwashers, countertop appliances, garage organization and water filtration. For more company information, visit www.whirpoolcorp.com.