Edmore, Michigan: Growing Up Through Hitachi and Electrolux Closures and Community Comeback

Edmore, Michigan: Growing Up Through Hitachi and Electrolux Closures and Community Comeback.

For Anthony Stickler, Edmore, Michigan isn’t just a hometown — it’s a lifelong story of community, change, and resilience.

Anthony has lived in the Edmore area since 1971. Over that time, he’s seen Montcalm County at its best and at its most challenging. On episode 166 of the Discover Montcalm Podcast, Anthony shares a firsthand perspective on what it was like growing up in a small town, watching major employers rise and fall, and working alongside community leaders to help the county rebuild.

Growing Up in a Small-Town Edmore

When Anthony was growing up, Edmore was a place where people knew their neighbors and often stayed for generations. Many students started school together and graduated together. The town revolved around local industry, schools, churches, and Main Street businesses.

A major part of Edmore’s identity was manufacturing. What later became Hitachi originally started as Union Carboloy in 1952, later merging with General Electric before becoming Hitachi. For decades, the plant was a cornerstone employer, shaping daily life and the local economy.

Anthony remembers a time when industry felt stable and permanent — a time when people expected to work locally, raise families locally, and retire locally.

When the Jobs Left: Hitachi and Electrolux

That sense of permanence was shaken in the early 2000s.

In 2004, Hitachi closed its Edmore-area plant. Just a short time later, Electrolux closed its Greenville facility between 2005 and 2006. The closures hit Montcalm County hard. 

Electrolux in Greenville (2005–06 closure): ~2,700 jobs lost.

Hitachi Magnetics in Edmore (2004 closure): ~120 jobs lost.

The ripple effects were felt across multiple communities and counties — from small businesses to schools to local services.

Anthony was working with the Montcalm Economic Alliance during this period, alongside Franz Magnus and many others. The Alliance served as a critical bridge between businesses, workers, and local, state, and federal resources.

“It was hectic,” Anthony recalls. Phone calls, paperwork, workforce retraining, and coordination with the state all happened at once. The focus wasn’t just replacing jobs, but helping people navigate an entirely new economic reality.

Rebuilding Through Education and Collaboration

One of the biggest parts of Montcalm County’s recovery was education and workforce development. Montcalm Community College played a major role, expanding programs to help displaced workers retrain quickly and realistically for new careers.

Anthony emphasizes that recovery wasn’t easy or instant. Families were under pressure. Businesses had to adapt. Communities had to rethink what growth looked like. But collaboration — between educators, economic developers, local leaders, and residents — made a difference.

Turning Loss Into Opportunity

What could have remained empty factories instead became an opportunity.

The Edmore, Michigan industrial area, particularly the Sunrise Industrial Park, hosts businesses like Ryan’s Equipment (forestry attachments), Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) (corrugated packaging), A&O Forklift, and the Edmore Department of Public Works, with past significant operations including the former Hitachi property being redeveloped for industrial use. 

Rather than letting setbacks define the county, Montcalm leaned into adaptability — finding new uses for old spaces and supporting diversified industry.

Edmore Today: Growing Forward Together

Fast forward to today, and Anthony sees real momentum — especially through Growing Edmore Together, a grassroots group of local businesses working hand-in-hand with the Downtown Development Authority.

From summer music events to downtown revitalization efforts, the group is focused on community pride, foot traffic, and connection. Anthony is a strong believer that economic development and community development must go hand in hand.

One shining example is the Edmore Potato Festival. Dating back decades, the festival has evolved into a true centerpiece event. With Main Street closed to traffic, kids’ activities on one end, car and tractor shows on the other, and neighbors reconnecting downtown, the festival captures what small-town life is all about.

“It felt like a Hallmark movie,” Anthony says — a place where people run into friends, meet new neighbors, and celebrate where they live.

A County Built on Strengths

Anthony is quick to point out that Montcalm County has more going for it than many people realize:

• Strong industrial roots with modern manufacturing

• Growing tourism tied to trails like the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail and White Pine Trail

• Access to outdoor recreation through Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources

• Central location between major cities like Grand Rapids, Lansing, Mount Pleasant, and Big Rapids

• A growing number of festivals, events, and volunteer-driven initiatives

Montcalm County also continues to see interest in secondary homes and outdoor recreation, bringing new visitors — and new investment — into the area.

The Power of Getting Involved

One of Anthony’s strongest messages is simple: community involvement matters.

Volunteering builds skills, strengthens resumes, creates pride, and helps people feel connected. Whether it’s setting up barricades for a festival or serving on a board, involvement creates ownership — and ownership fuels growth.

“Investment isn’t always money,” Anthony says. “Sometimes it’s blood, sweat, and tears.”

Looking Ahead

After seeing Edmore and Montcalm County through both good times and hard times, Anthony remains optimistic. The county has learned how to adapt, collaborate, and lean into its strengths.

From local industry to community festivals to grassroots groups like Growing Edmore Together, Montcalm County continues to move forward — not by forgetting its past, but by learning from it.

And as Anthony reminds us, the more people who step up and get involved, the stronger the future will be.

You can contact Anthony at Stickler LLC, 989-304-6227

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Contact
Call 231-250-9624

Duane Weed at 231-250-9624 or duane@dwvideo.com. Together, let’s showcase the heart of Montcalm County, one story at a time.

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