Cornerstone Alliance
38 W. Wall Steet, P.O. Box 428
Benton Harbor, MI 49023-0428
269.925.6100
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Utilities and Communications

From dedicated utility services to an outstanding transportation network, Michigan's Great Southwest is a Utilitiesregion fully equipped for business in the 21st Century. Additionally, you will find that many of the utility services offer very cost effective rates that ultimately contribute to financial success for your business.

Water System
Michigan's Great Southwest supplies treated water to residential and commercial customers through the use of municipal filtration plants, with the cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph having the largest plants. These plants supply water for their own needs and the needs of surrounding villages and townships. Additionally, the plants provide water to area businesses and industries at rates competitive with state and regional averages. The water they provide is of the highest quality, as both plants boast exemplary records for meeting state and federal standards for finished water quality.

Wastewater Treatment Plants
Michigan's Great Southwest has wastewater plants on a municipal basis with the largest plant jointly operated by the cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph. This plant provides service to local residents and industries with one of the most effective and cost-effective means of wastewater treatment available.

The plant has earned a statewide reputation for meeting state and federal guidelines, and has received several awards for outstanding operation. Residents and businesses profit from a final water quality that is among the best in the state.

The plant works with industrial and commercial users of all sizes, and is able to service each of them with a package tailored to their particular needs. They provide personalized attention to both new and existing users, offering everything from technical information to funding alternatives. The staff can assist businesses in maintaining compliance with federal pretreatment standards by monitoring process sample and aiding in the documentation of discharge quality.

Water Service Rates
Michigan's Great Southwest water and wastewater rates vary depending upon the municipality in which you chose to locate in. Cornerstone Alliance will assist in contacting the municipal offices of the community you chose to locate in to provide with the most current rates.

Electric Utility System
Michigan's Great Southwest receives its electrical supply from Indiana Michigan Power, a division of American Electric Power. American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states.

AEP ranks among the nation's largest generators of electricity, owning more than 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation's largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765 kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP's transmission system directly or indirectly serves about 10 percent of the electricity demand in the Eastern Interconnection, the interconnected transmission system that covers 38 eastern and central U.S. states and eastern Canada, and approximately 11 percent of the electricity demand in ERCOT, the transmission system that covers much of Texas. AEP's utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP's headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.

Power Plants
Electricity is generated by two-coal fired power plants located in Southern Indiana and one nuclear power plant located in Bridgman, Michigan. (The D.C. Cook Plant) Additionally, they operate six hydro plants along the St. Joseph River.

Sub-Stations
There are many sub-stations located throughout Michigan's Great Southwest. Once you have chosen the site that is right for your business contact Indiana Michigan Power for further information.

Commercial Electric Rates
According to the Benchmarking Study comparing Michigan's Great Southwest to 15 similar communities, the electrical utility costs are better than the average of the eight comparison areas for which data is available.

Natural Gas
Michigan's Great Southwest obtains their natural gas supply from one of Michigan's major natural gas providers. With their commitment to reliable and cost-effective service, Michigan Gas Utilities offers a number of competitive advantages to its customers.

Natural Gas Rates
As a natural gas provider, Michigan Gas Utilities faces the competition of various fuel types-including electricity. Among the numerous competitors, Michigan Gas Utilities manages to rate as the lowest cost utility provider in the state of Michigan. From an industrial/manufacturing standpoint, this fact translates into sizable cost advantages.

Telecommunications Networks in the Area
The state of Michigan has the most technologically advanced telecommunications infrastructure of any location in North America, with over 300,000 miles of fiber connecting virtually every community in the state.

Michigan's Great Southwest has a direct connection to the state's infrastructure. Businesses have the capacity to reach out globally with voice, data, and video. Continued improvements help to reassure that Michigan's Great Southwest will continue to be served by the latest world-class technology and communications services.

Available Services

  • Residential and business local telephone service
  • Premium services such as call waiting, conference calling and call forwarding
  • Advanced call management services including caller ID, automatic callback, and repeat dialing
  • Paging service
  • Yellow page advertising
  • Premises wiring and maintenance
  • Telephone and data communications equipment
  • Financing for communications equipment
  • Training on effective use of the phone for sales, collections and customer service
  • Advanced data and video service
  • Point of sale transactions
  • Low cost credit card verification
  • Internet access
  • Full motion video teleconferencing for meetings, conferences, and remote training
  • Work-at-home employee access to LANs or host computers
  • And much more....