United Federal Credit Union Receives 2019 Economic Growth Award from Cornerstone Alliance
2/14/2020 | Team United
United receives 2019 Cornerstone Alliance Economic Growth Award. L to R: Rob Cleveland, President/CEO Cornerstone Alliance; Terry O’Rourke, President/CEO United Federal Credit Union; John Janick, Chairman of the Cornerstone Alliance Board of Directors
Benton Harbor, Michigan – United Federal Credit Union (United) received the 2019 Economic Growth Award from Cornerstone Alliance at an awards ceremony held on February 13.
Cornerstone Alliance presents the Economic Growth Award to a Berrien County business for its commitment of continued investment and growth in the community.
United received the award in part for its purchase and redevelopment of a former Whirlpool Corporation office building at 150 Hilltop Road in St. Joseph, Michigan. United will use the approximately 80,000-square-foot building as its new headquarters to support the credit union’s long-term corporate growth plans, and to serve as a multi-functional space for current employees.
“On behalf of Team United, we are humbled and honored to receive such a meaningful award, and thank Cornerstone Alliance for the recognition,” said United President/CEO, Terry O’Rourke. “The Economic Growth Award is particularly special because it represents a commitment to community. At United, we believe that our community is strongest when we come together and help others become successful. We continue to reinvest in southwest Michigan because this is home.”
United announced its plans to purchase the building in April 2019 after working with Whirlpool and Cornerstone Alliance to establish a special Commercial Rehabilitation District for the property as a way to return it to a productive employment center. The recommendation was supported by the city of St. Joseph and the Berrien County Board of Commissioners.
“The Economic Growth Award presented to United Federal Credit Union is well deserved and acknowledges the demonstrated effort to add value to our community, in so many ways,” said Rob Cleveland, President and CEO of Cornerstone Alliance. “Economic growth requires a commitment to invest in the community and when considering the overall development of United Federal Credit Union, it’s exciting to envision what’s in store for the future of southwest Michigan. United had many options on where to locate its operations, and this redevelopment project would not have taken place without the encouragement and support of the city of St. Joseph.”
Construction and redesign of United’s new headquarters at the Hilltop Road location is expected to be completed in the summer of 2020.
