Kellogg has announced it will lease a new office tower to be built adjacent to our global headquarters as part of a planned revitalization of downtown Battle Creek.

"The new office space will enable us to consolidate our employees downtown and create a campus-like environment," President and CEO David Mackay says in a press release issued November 24 by Battle Creek Unlimited, a community development organization leading the project to breath new life into the city's central business district.

An artist's rendering shows the office tower to be constructed across from our Battle Creek headquarters as part of a downtown revitalization project. Once complete, the facility will be leased to Kellogg.

David continues, "We believe this is the right thing to do for our Battle Creek-based employees and that it can significantly contribute to the growth and revitalization of Battle Creek's central business district."

The six-story tower will be constructed by a local development company, McCamly Office LLC, and then leased to Kellogg, which will be the sole tenant. It's expected to open in late 2010, contingent on securing local and state government incentives. It will be located directly across McCamly Street from the front of our headquarters facility and is being designed to complement its look.

With 122,500 square feet of office space, the building will hold a maximum of 700 people.

"The new building will allow us to relocate nearly everyone who now works at Porter Street - and create a true corporate campus downtown," David says. "We will all be within easy walking distance of one another, which will positively impact our productivity and efficiency. Plus, it'll relocate about 600 jobs to the downtown area - significantly contributing to its growth and revitalization."

Consistent with Kellogg's focus on corporate responsibility and being a good steward of the environment, the office tower will be constructed in an environmentally sustainable manner. In fact, it will be certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.

The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED standards provide a national benchmark for green, sustainable building design.

Another view of the six-story office tower, which may be connected to our global headquarters building by an enclosed skyway. Final construction plans have not yet been finalized.

Working together

Our company has been working closely with Battle Creek Unlimited, city officials and other local organizations such as the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to formulate a strategy for revitalizing the downtown business district.

Other highlights of the revitalization plan - which leverages current and future investments in food science, technology and education - include:

• Infrastructure improvements to enhance the aesthetics of the downtown area, including a gateway enhancement project on Michigan Highway 66, lighting enhancements and more useable public spaces.

• Establishing a research center to promote the formation and attraction of new companies and jobs by increasing research, development and commercialization of new technologies in food sciences and food protection in Battle Creek. (Program details may be announced by Battle Creek Unlimited next month.)

• Exploring the potential of relocating and expanding the Battle Creek Area Math and Science Center to downtown battle Creek. This well-respected and innovative educational option for students from area school districts is operated by Battle Creek Public Schools.

• Supporting collaboration efforts that are under way between the Battle Creek YMCA and the city's Parks and Recreation department that would include the creation of a first-class fitness and recreation center downtown.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation - which, of course, bears the name of our mutual founder - has approved up to $35 million to support various aspects of this redevelopment effort. This money will be invested as opportunities arise that resonate with the foundation's mission and vision of building a nation where all children thrive.

"It's a natural fit for us," says W.K. Kellogg Foundation President and CEO Sterling Speirn, who also serves as a Kellogg Company board member. "We have a historic commitment to investing in the assets of the community in which we are based. We also have a rich legacy of funding food science and healthy living programs, as well as education. By building on both our legacy and existing community assets, this project will help position Battle Creek as a world leader in food science research and place innovation at the center of the community's ongoing downtown revitalization efforts."

Vision lauded

Reacting to the news about the new officer tower that will be leased by Kellogg, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm says she applauds our company's "vision and generosity to make Battle Creek a dynamic city of the future."

She continues, "Revitalizing our cities is a key component of our strategy to grow Michigan's economy and create jobs, but it requires a strong partnership between public and private sectors."

Late last year, our company announced that it would be expanding our W.K. Kellogg Institute for Food and Nutrition Research (WKKI), which is located two blocks southeast of our global headquarters in Battle Creek. Construction began during the second quarter and is expected to be finished by the third quarter of next year.

Once complete, WKKI will be more than 150,000 square feet larger thanks to an office and pilot plant expansion is intended to help us continue to meet our business needs and achieve sustainable growth.

David says Kellogg is very proud to be playing a central role in helping Battle Creek enter this new era in its history.

"For nearly 103 years now, our company has been strongly committed to this community. Although we've grown into a global business, Battle Creek remains our hometown - and it's here that the spirit and legacy of our founder, W.K. Kellogg, continues to touch the lives of so many," he says.