MIW purchases Art Van building
by Peter Jakey-Managing Editor
The former Art Van building in Onaway will not be empty for much longer as Moran Iron Works has purchased the building and 31-acres in downtown Onaway with possible plans of establishing a welding school. The building is at 20902 Washington Street.
The former furniture store closed before summer and had employed 25 associates. Art Van took ownership from Brewbaker’s Furniture in January 2011. At the time of the announcement in April, Art Van officials indicated they would be willing to sell or donate the building to a nonprofit organization.
The purchase was finalized Monday; however, no purchase price was made available. Both parties wanted to keep it confidential.
“Yesterday (Monday), we took ownership,” said Marilyn Kapp, public relations director. “They were clearing out all of their extra stuff over the weekend. Today (Tuesday), it will be gone for good. We told them we were not going to abandon it.”
She believes it will be an integral component going forward.
Kapp said the plans for the building are “not definite. We will be meeting with some folks over the next couple of weeks, but we are seriously considering a trade school.”
MIW offers welding course at their M-68 complex, just inside the Cheboygan County line. The night classes are administered and accredited through Alpena Community College.
The company has struggled to find qualified employees. “That come here with credentials, that know how to weld,” said Kapp. “And it just kept coming back to, some people think they know how to weld, but the level of mastery and requirements are extremely high here.”
Kapp said the plan would include recruiting area high school students to attend the proposed trade school, “and teaching them ourselves. We are in a position where we need them right now.”
Kapp said MIW already has three certified welding instructors, who have been with the company 20 years each. ‘We feel we can use their talents to help us build a curriculum.” She said welding instruction could blossom into tool and die classes and other trade disciplines.
The company has hired someone to prepare the documents and paperwork to get the school up and running.
“We are very, very, very serious about making that happen,” said Kapp. “We don’t see any obstacles at this point, but we are just getting start
The company employees 110.
Earlier this year, MIW was awarded a $2 million Michigan Business Development Program grant for the Port of Calcite Collaborative project.
It centers on MIW expanding its Onaway facility to make larger products, as well as make dock and facility improvements at the Port of Calcite in Rogers City.
Other area businesses and organizations also will have access to the port for improving goods transportation opportunities.
The new property acquisition is part of the company’s master plan that includes other recent purchases in downtown Onaway area.
The plan complements the company’s impending growth strategy and fosters economic development in the downtown district.