A Plant-Based Milk Maker Plans a Fenton Plant. It Must Create at Least 96 Jobs to Get a State Grant.

By Carrie Thompson, Strategic Marketing Real Estate Agent, eXp Realty, Grand Blanc, MI

A newly formed company called Fenton Food and Beverage LLC plans to invest up to $56.2 million in the City of Fenton and create at least 96 new jobs, after the Michigan Strategic Fund board approved a $960,000 performance-based grant for the project on May 19, 2026 (Office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, May 19, 2026). The company is owned by Yahya Abbas of YaYa Foods Corp., a Canadian food and beverage manufacturer (Office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, May 19, 2026). Officials said the company plans to make plant-based drinks, like almond or cashew milk (WNEM, May 19, 2026).

The state grant is tied to hiring

The grant came through the Michigan Business Development Program and is performance-based, meaning the money is tied to the company creating at least 96 new jobs (Office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, May 19, 2026). ABC12 described the $960,000 as grant funding contingent on the company meeting its hiring commitments (ABC12, May 19, 2026).

The state release lists three entities connected with the new Fenton location: Fenton Food and Beverage LLC, Fenton Holding Co, Inc., and Fenton Food and Beverage Properties LLC (Office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, May 19, 2026). Fenton was one of three projects the board approved that day. The other two were in Troy and Detroit, and together the three were announced as 650 new jobs and more than $97 million in capital investment (WNEM, May 19, 2026).

The plant will pull milk from nuts with water

According to the state, YaYa Foods Corp. has more than 30 years of experience in food and beverage manufacturing and is the second-largest manufacturer in North America in the plant-based milk alternative category (Office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, May 19, 2026). The Fenton location expects to be the first in North America to use a new technology that extracts milk from nuts with water instead of making milk from paste (Office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, May 19, 2026).

The release says manufacturing at YaYa Foods and at the new Fenton facility will stay independent, but that the Fenton company may produce a primary product expected to serve as a component in some YaYa Foods products (Office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, May 19, 2026).

Tyler Rossmaessler, executive director of the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance, told WNEM the plant will also be able to handle short production runs of other drinks. "They're going to be working on almond milk. But they'll also be able to do short run other beverages," he said (WNEM, May 19, 2026). He added that an entrepreneur or company with a new product could run it through the facility to test it in the market (WNEM, May 19, 2026).

Michigan was one of six states in the running

Michigan was one of six states in the Midwest and Southeast in the running for the project, and the state credited its talented workforce and the connectivity to cities around the world through Detroit Metro Airport as significant drivers of the company's decision (Office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, May 19, 2026).

"Michigan stood out early in our site selection process, and Fenton offered the right combination of access, workforce, and partnership. We're excited to move forward and build a strong, long-term operation here," said Yahya Abbas, identified in the release as CEO of Fenton Foods (Office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, May 19, 2026).

Fenton Assistant City Manager Michael A. Hart told WNEM the deal involved several levels of government. "This was actually a multi-tier project where there was coordination through Southeast Michigan, the county, state of Michigan, MEDC," he said (WNEM, May 19, 2026). WNEM also reported that the city is investing in infrastructure upgrades near the future site to support the development (WNEM, May 19, 2026).

The wage figures differ by source

The state says the average wage across all positions is expected to be $33.32 an hour plus benefits, and that every position will start above the $21.58 regional median wage (Office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, May 19, 2026). In its local report, WNEM said the jobs are expected to start around $25 an hour plus benefits (WNEM, May 19, 2026). Those two numbers measure different things, an average across all jobs versus a starting wage, so they do not necessarily conflict.

The investment figure also appears two ways. The state uses "up to $56.2 million" (Office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, May 19, 2026), while WNEM's local story said the project comes with at least a $50 million investment (WNEM, May 19, 2026).

The May announcements did not name a site

None of the state or news reports I reviewed named an address for the plant. WNEM reported that more information about the facility, such as its location and a construction timeline, was expected in the weeks after the announcement (WNEM, May 19, 2026). Until the city or the company releases a site plan, the location and the start of construction remain open questions.

"Ninety-six new jobs, good paying jobs. This is the type of investment we like to see in Genesee County," Rossmaessler told WNEM (WNEM, May 19, 2026).

What this means if you are buying or selling in Fenton

A new employer with at least 96 planned jobs is worth watching if you are buying or selling in Fenton. Once a site is named, buyers looking near it should check the city's zoning map and any site plan filed with the Fenton Planning Commission so they know what the neighboring parcel will become and how truck traffic is routed. Sellers near an announced industrial site should have that information ready, because buyers will ask about it.

Every listing I take gets professional photos and video, room sizes, targeted digital ads, and targeted buyer avatars. Call or text Carrie Thompson at (810) 893-3269.

About Carrie Thompson

Carrie Thompson, "Your Favorite Property Girl," is a Strategic Marketing Real Estate Agent (REALTOR®) with eXp Realty serving Grand Blanc and Genesee County, Michigan, including Fenton, Fenton Township, Linden, Lake Fenton, Holly, and Grand Blanc Township. Michigan license 6501338662. Call or text (810) 893-3269.