[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 70 (Monday, May 21, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S5264]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF JIM HETTINGER: PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF 
                         BATTLE CREEK UNLIMITED

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I am delighted to speak today to 
acknowledge a gentleman, from my home State of Michigan, who has served 
the citizens of Battle Creek, Jim Hettinger. On May 24th of this year, 
people will gather to pay tribute to Jim Hettinger for his tenure as 
Executive Director of Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU).
  Jim Hettinger has dedicated his professional career, to the 
development of jobs and opportunities for individuals in the 
communities where he has worked. For the past twenty years, Jim has 
served as the president and executive director of Battle Creek 
Unlimited, Battle Creek's economic development agency.
  In the past two decades, Battle Creek has witnessed numerous changes 
in its economic landscape, but throughout that time period Jim has been 
working to ensure the economic health and vitality of Battle Creek. As 
director of Battle Creek Unlimited, Jim Hettinger tirelessly works to 
promote Battle Creek as an ideal place for businesses to locate. His 
promotion of Battle Creek has spanned the globe, and has yielded 
impressive results.
  A Michigan native, Jim returned to his home State to work for Battle 
Creek United after working for the Mid-Missouri Council of Government 
where he was able to lure a German company to Missouri instead of 
Battle Creek. However, since arriving in Battle Creek, he has created 
an industrial park that is recognized as second to none.
  Under Jim's guidance, BCU has turned Fort Custer, an abandoned 
military base, into an industrial park that contains over ninety 
businesses that provide over 8,000 jobs. The Fort Custer Industrial 
Park provides good-paying jobs to thousands of individuals by 
harnessing the dynamism of the global economy. Nearly, three-quarters 
of the workers in the Ft. Custer Industrial Park are employed by 
Japanese owned companies. The willingness of international businesses 
to locate in Battle Creek is testimony to Jim's ability to bridge 
cultures and convince companies to utilize Battle Creek's world-class 
workers and receptive business environment.
  Jim Hettinger's hard work has been recognized by Michigan Governor 
John Engler who awarded him the Economic Developer of the Year Award in 
1995. Last year, the Counsel General of Japan in Detroit awarded Mr. 
Hettinger with a ``Certificate of Designation'' on behalf of the 
Government of Japan.
  I hope my Senate colleagues will join me in saluting Jim Hettinger 
for his career of public service, particularly his efforts to provide 
quality jobs to the residents of the Battle Creek community while 
fostering a vibrant and dynamic relationship between the Battle Creek 
area and Japan.

                          ____________________