February 3, 2005

DEQ Director Steven E. Chester has added Cascade Engineering’s Industrial Solutions Group to the growing list of Michigan Clean Corporate Citizens.

The Cascade Engineering Industrial Solutions designs and manufactures plastic injection molded products for residential and business uses. These two contiguous plants, located at 5145 36th Street and 4950 37th Street SE on the south side of Grand Rapids join their sister business operations, Cascade Engineering Acoustics Group and Cascade Engineering Automotive Solutions Group as Clean Corporate Citizens. They are demonstrating responsible environmental actions while partnering with their community through the Neighborhood Environmental Partners program.

All senior managers at Cascade Engineering attended a ten week on-site Sustainable Business course, the same course taught by owner, Fred Keller, to students at Cornell University.

“We welcome the Cascade Engineering corporate family to Clean Corporate Citizen program,” said DEQ Director Chester. “This outstanding company, which strives on a daily basis toward sustainability, serves as a role model for other Michigan businesses.”

“We are proud to use this designation as the “baseline” for our sustainability programs. We believe in going much further than compliance to government regulations, said Fred Keller, Chairman and CEO of Cascade Engineering. We believe that it is not only the right thing to do, it is good for business.”

Michigan’s Clean Corporate Citizen certification is a voluntary program recognizing environmental stewardship. To qualify for a Clean Corporate Citizen designation, candidates must adopt a facility-specific environmental management system and active pollution prevention initiatives, and have a consistent record of compliance with applicable environmental requirements. Clean Corporate Citizens are eligible for certain regulatory benefits under the state’s environmental programs, including expedited permit approval. The program is open to establishments regulated under any of Michigan’s environmental statutes. Designations are valid for one year and must be renewed annually.  

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

Revised February 3, 2005 by Alice Stimpson